“You’re not going back, and you need your stuff, Roxie. There’s not a choice here, and even if there was one, I’d still do this. So, tomorrow, after you’ve slept and actually rested, you’ll tell me the address and Asher and I will figure out how to get it. Safely.” I add the last word to help negate her guilt, her need to take on the pain to shield it from me.
Her eyes flicker across the room, to Asher, who stands there with his arms crossed like he’s some bodyguard and watches him nod once. With no hesitation.
“Okay,” she whispers.
I don’t love that she’s said the word like she’s reluctant, like she’s really, truly, actually not wanting me to do this for her. Butin this moment, I know that she’s fighting within herself and I’m going to be damned if Mickey takes one more fucking thing from her.
“Okay,” I repeat and look at her softly. “It’s going to be okay now.” I say those words as a promise, and I don’t intend to break it.
Roxie’s lip twitches slightly and a tear falls out of the corner of her eye, I move a hand and wipe it away with the pad of my thumb.
“No more running, Roxie. Let me help.”
She bites her lip, but winces with the pain like she forgot for a moment how hurt she is, and then nods.
“Okay.”
CHAPTER 13
When he wipesthe tear from my cheek I swear, the whole world falls away.
Just Ty and I, locked in this dance between us. The push and pull. The need I have to protect him and the need he has to protect me.
When I say okay, something small inside me heals.I’m not alone anymore. Ty’s looking at me like I’m precious, like I’m the same girl he held in the clearing, like nothing that I went through to survive changed his mind about me.
Ty’s eyes drop to my lips for a moment, then back up to my eyes. Like heseesme.
Then Asher clears his throat.
And the bubble pops.
I relax back on the couch a little bit, putting just a little bit of space between us instantly, but Ty… Ty watches me do it andthen grumbles under his breath about murdering his best friend before unwillingly sitting back.
“I’m going to go get extra blankets and stuff for the couch,” Asher says awkwardly, turning down the little hallway toward where I’m guessing their rooms are before taking a sharp left and closing the door loudly.
“I think you should take my bed. It’s not great, but it’s better than the couch.” Ty takes my hand, looking at me kindly.
“No,” I say, laughing slightly. “No, I will not betaking your bedon top of everything else.”
“You need actual sleep. Not broken sleep on a shitty futon.”
“Ty, I’m not taking your bed. That’s the end of it,” I say strongly. I’m already taking everything from him, I can’t take that too.
“Goddamn it, you’re such a stubborn person.”
“Takes one to know one.”
“Oh, and very mature as well,” Ty snarks with an eyeroll. “Come on, Roxie, just take the bed. I’ll sit with you until you fall asleep.”
How’d he know?
I sigh, giving up the fight because I know I won’t win.
“Okay.”
Ty smirks and then bends down, slipping his hands under my knees and behind my back. “Hold on,” he says, before he lifts me up like I weigh nothing.
“Ty,” I start to tell him to put me down, but his hold just tightens.
