“Nash… er Callum,” I quickly amend when he gives me a look.
“I’m in a hurry so can we argue about this later. I’ll see what I can do about your car and we can figure something out about where you’re going to live but for now, you come here. I mean it Charley. I’m hardly here so you’ll have the place to yourself.”
“You don’t even know me, how do you know you can trust me?”
“I’m an excellent judge of character.” He walks around the island, picks up the keys and puts them in my hand, then leans in closer. “And I know when someone needs help but is too proud to ask for it. Take thisfor what it is Charley, a temporary arrangement until you get on your feet. And think about those people back in that crack den.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“I’ll have to burn the place down, with them all in it, if you even consider going back there.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly. You should get to work, there is a key to the house on the ring. I’m not sure when I’ll be back so help yourself to anything. Within reason,” he winks. “Although I got to touch your underwear, so if you want to go rooting around in mine.”
“Holy shit,” I mutter the burn in my face coming back.
“Don’t leave.”
“But I can’t impose.”
“Not imposing. I really have to go. If you pull any stunts, don’t forget, I know where you work.”
I’m still standing there, staring at the empty doorway long after he’s walked out. “What the hell just happened?”
And oh my God, how could he bring up that he had a handful of my underwear last night.
“He’s crazy,” I look down at the keys in my hand.
How am I going to explain to everyone when I show up at Elegance driving this thing? There is no way I can stay here with him but he is right about one thing, I can’t go back to that place, not after those two men tried to get into my room.
They might have been afraid of Nashville, but he won’t always be around to protect me. I’ll just have to do what I was planning, find a cheap motel. I can do that but right now, I need to get to work.
Sleeping so late means I’m behind schedule, and there is no time to fit in any dance practice. I can worry about everything else later.
Lily is the only person I’m getting closer to at Elegance but telling her about last night isn’t happening. I hate the thought of her finding out I’ve been lying. The only thing I can do is keep it to myself. Along with the fact I’m staying at one of the Blackhawk Disciples houses.
Beast isn’t around the whole night, none of the Disciples are and I can’t help but be disappointed that Callum didn’t show. It’s weird to think of him as Callum. It’s easier than calling him Nashville and I kindof like the idea of knowing his real identity, which in turn makes it easier to go back to his house, in his car.
This isn’t something I can get used to. I’ve had the big house, the fancy cars, my life isn’t like that anymore, I’ll find somewhere else and tell him I’m going, tomorrow, because he isn’t here.
I’m oddly disappointed, it’s not like he didn’t tell me he wouldn’t be around much. It never entered my head that he meant it literally.
Three days pass of me coming and going and hardly any sign of him ever having been here, except for a cup in the drainer or a fresh batch of laundry being done, including my clothes, which I’m not overly thrilled about but it’s nice having fresh clothes to wear.
Then last night he brought home takeout, and we watched re-runs of Vampire Diaries together. I’ve never seen it before, but he confessed it was a favorite and if I told anyone he would never speak to me again.
That was nice. Apart from the threat, which I know he didn’t mean but I won’t tell anyone. Even if we didn’t chat a lot, it was just nice having company. He is fun to be around, laid back and likes to crack jokes.
I can’t forget that I’ve seen him angry though, how he can switch from the guy eating pizza on the floor talking about who his favorite vampire is, and the one who threatens to kill people. And they listen because they know he means it.
After a week of staying in his house, and while driving to work in his BMW, I’m shocked to realize not only have I got used to this, I haven’t looked for anywhere else to live.
When I get to work, Ellie is sitting in a booth and the dancers are all gathered around. Jealousy sweeps over me and I curse not getting a fake ID when I first came here. I didn’t think they wouldn’t allow me to dance because I’m a few months younger than the legal age.
“Charley!”
I stop on my way to the staff room and look at Ellie. She waves me over to join everyone. Whatever has happened, it’s put everyone in a somber mood.
