“Don’t apologize. I meant it back then, and nothing changed when your mom and I broke up. I’m glad you called. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about you, though.” There’s that scrunched up brow again. “I brought you here, because I sent a cop friend of mine to the restaurant after we left and Brad was gone. They're looking for him, but it's not safe for you until they find him. Especially with him knowing where you live.”
“Thank you for saving me,” I say quietly before swallowing all the spit that’s formed in my mouth from just being near this man.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Shit, where are my clothes?”
Thank god I snapped out of that trance real quick. My nipples were starting to tighten, like homing beacons searching for a hot older man. That was close, because they almost found one and I don’t need the added embarrassment of him knowing the effect he has on my body.
“I wanted you to be as comfortable as possible while you were resting, so I put you in one of my old band t-shirts. I promise I was as respectful as possible. You’re just going to have to trust me on that.” I nod, but it doesn’t stop my cheeks from heating with embarrassment, knowing he saw me like that.
I do trust him. It’s why I called in the first place. When I ran into him at Gravity, I was drunk, which of course caused my pissy mood at his over the top, protective, daddy adjacent attitude. I wanted to punch him in his sexy face for having the audacity to try and tell me what to do. When he was with mom, despite only for a fairly short time, he seemed to legitimately care and was the only one who ever stood up for me when shewas being an asshole. But he lost the right to haveanysay about what I do with my life, the moment he left.
“I should get my stuff together and go. I’m sorry again for calling you,” I say, heading back to the room I woke up in.
“Stop,” he orders and I slowly turn back. “You haven’t eaten anything. You’ll sit and eat a proper meal and then we’ll discuss what happens next.”
“Have you always been this bossy? You’re lucky I’m actually hungry,” I tease, with a complimentary eye roll.
Pulling out the barstool, I hop up and pull the plate closer. It really does smell amazing. I don’t remember the last time I had a homemade meal. I try to eat healthier when I can, but I’m generally too busy or too tired to cook, meaning most meals fall in the fast category.
“You have no idea how bossy I can actually be, little girl. This is nothing,” he assures me with an actual smirk plastered on his gorgeous fucking face.
“This bacon smells delicious, but I’m going to pass. The last thing I need is to consume this much saturated fat, it will literally attach itself to my ass and that is fat enough as it is.”
I can feel his eyes burning into me for far too long while I devour the fluffy scrambled eggs when he finally speaks again. “Don’t give me that body shaming shit. You’re perfect the way you are now be a good girl and eat all of it. Your body has been through a lot, and you need the energy.”
A flutter builds low in my belly and my thighs clench at his commanding tone.Do not think naked thoughts about mom’s ex. Do not think naked thoughts about mom’s ex.I allow the mantra to replay in my head, hoping I can make it be true.
14
Ryker
I’ve never been more grateful for my ability to mask my rage than I am in this moment. I’m practically shaking, stuck somewhere between wanting to find this dickwad Brad, showing him what happens to people that hurt those I care about and putting this frustrating woman over my lap and spanking the recklessness out of her. I’ve always been protective by nature, but this situation has me feeling particularly feral. I can’t do either of those things, but I did text Hayes last night and had him revoke Brad’s membership, effective immediately. Thankfully, it settles me–a little. I’ll take what I can get right now.
As for Arabella, I find myself wondering what’s happened to her in the last six years, because the woman sitting in front of me isnotwho I imagined she would grow up to be. The comment about her weight did not get past me, so clearly Christine’s influence is still strong. She was always bringing it up in negative ways and I could see how it affected her, even then.
“What happened to you?” My curiosity piqued, I finally ask. I need to know.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I want to know what you’ve been up to in the last six years.” I sigh and lean against the sink, tossing the dish towel over my shoulder and crossing my arms. “The girl I ran into last week is not the girl I remember.”
Dropping her fork, she huffs out a breath and meets my eyes. “You’re right. I’mnotthe same, Ryker.” Her shoulders tense at the admission and I have a feeling her walls are about to go up.
“I was sure things would get better for you after graduation. What changed?”
“Things didn’t exactly go as planned,” she admits as her voice gets louder. “Why does it matter anyway? Maybe I’m just tired of being the good, responsible girl, who does everything that’s asked of her.”
My resolve cracks slightly, as I process what she’s telling me. They sound simple–normal even–but something tells me there's more that she’s not saying. I’d push her harder, but my need for information seems to be transitioning into a need to hug her. But I don’t. Because she’s not mine and it’s none of my business.
“If you ever want to talk about it–”
“Thanks for breakfast,” she interrupts, breaking eye contact and hopping off the barstool, creating more distance between us. “But I think I’ll go get my stuff and be on my way.”
She’s not going anywhere.
“No.”
