A few minutes later, Evan dropped me off in front of my house before going to his own home down the block.
“Ali-Cat?”Dad walked out of the kitchen just as I was about to run upstairs.
He was dressed in black slacks and a black button-down that was only half done up, exposing some of the ink on his chest that he’d been adding to since long before I was born.His dark blond hair was styled, which meant he was going out.
“You look nice,” I told him, pausing on the first step.
“Mom and I are having a date night.Are you going to be okay with dinner on your own?”
“I have plans,” I told him, adjusting my gym bag strap on my shoulder.With all the books I’d brought home, it was heavier than normal, and I was so freaking tired.Sleep was elusive lately.I was exhausted, and my period was about to wreak havoc.Even as I stood there, I began to cramp.
His jaw clenched.“With Sixx?”
“Would you rather I go out without him, Dad?”I asked, brow raised, half challenging him.
He huffed, looking even crankier because the truth was, he didn’t like it when I went anywhere without Sixx.“Is he picking you up?”
Sixx and I had been official for a while, just not Dad-official.Meaning my dad wasn’t ready for us to be more than BFFs.He’d get there.Eventually.Until then, it was better to let him pretend Sixx was simply my bestie.Labels didn’t really matter.It was all the same.I’d gotten lucky, finding my soul mate so early in life.
Dad had rules for when I went out without him or Mom.One of those was that I either went with Evan, took security, or I had to be with Sixx.
Out of those three options, Dad was the most at ease when I was with Sixx because he knew Sixx would do whatever was necessary to ensure I made it home safe.Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Dad trusted Sixx more than any other person when it came to me.That Sixx was a black belt in jiu-jitsu and could become unhinged with the flip of a switch if someone so much as looked at me too long was a plus in his favor, according to Dad.
“Yes.We might go to dinner and then a movie.”Another cramp twisted low in my abdomen.I bounced up onto my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.“Have fun with Mom.Love you.Bye.”
“Ali-Cat!”he called after me as I sprinted up the stairs.“I want your location turned on all night.”
“Sure, Dad.”That wouldn’t be a problem since I planned on keeping my phone hidden in my room.Even if we went out, I was going to “forget” it at home.
I couldn’t chance Sixx seeing any of those texts.
Sixx
Walkinginto Ali’s living room, I dropped the grocery bags on the coffee table and offered her the biggest fountain Diet Coke I’d bought her on my way to her house.Dressed in one of my hoodies and a pair of black sweatpants, she was curled into one corner of the couch, her eyes glazed and heavy lidded as she greedily slurped down the contents of her drink.
Parking my ass on the couch beside her, I started unloading the goodies I’d bought for her.Her favorite chocolates, fruit-flavored snacks, and plenty of salty chips.I’d come prepared, knowing it was close to her period, but from the looks of it, the damned thing had arrived before me.She had a heating pad on her belly and a bottle of Motrin sitting on the side table with the lid off.
Ali looked miserable, her bottom lip pouting out like she didn’t know if she was pissed or sad.I shot a quick glance at the television, and one of her go-to comfort shows was quietly playing.At least it wasn’t one of those dreaded movies that always made her cry.It was a safe bet she’d shed tears a few times before the end of the night, but at least she wasn’t openly weeping yet.
Placing a candy bar in her hand, I opened a bag of chips and fed her one.Her chin wobbled, and I leaned in to kiss her, stopping the tremble before it could get out of hand.
“Missed you,” I murmured, settling back and lifting her legs into my lap.I’d been anticipating this all week.The only thing that had kept me sane was thoughts of her.Touching her.Holding her.Just being beside her.
“Sixx,” she whispered, her gaze on the chocolate in her hand.
Something in her tone, even though it was barely audible, caused an itch in my brain.She’d barely spoken loud enough for me to hear, yet I heard the way her voice caught.Over the past several weeks, little things had happened with her that had set me on edge.I couldn’t put my finger on it, and for the most part, I thought it was just me being me.When it came to Ali, I was hyperaware of everything.Some people—very non-important people—would say I was hypersensitive where Ali was concerned.
“What’s wrong, freckles?”
She flinched at the little nickname I sometimes used for her.I tensed, my breath freezing in my lungs as time seemed to stand still.But then she curled her arm over her stomach and moaned pitifully.
Cramps.That was what caused the flinch.Not something I’d said or done.Just her period torturing her.
Realizing that didn’t magically release the tension in my muscles.I still felt like I was holding my breath, that itch in my brain growing more intense.
Taking the drink from her, I shifted everything else out of the way and stretched us both out on the couch.Lying behind her, I rearranged the heating pad over her belly.
Pecking a kiss to her cheek, I rubbed infinity symbols above her pelvic bone.As expected, it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep.For the next two hours, I lay there, head propped up on one hand, mesmerized, still tracing my finger over her soft skin.
