Ophelia swallows thickly as her eyes fill with tears.
“My mom’s alcoholism turned into addiction a while ago,” I continue quietly. “Pills, coke. Whatever she can get hands on.”
Shame burns through me saying it out loud.
“Couple nights ago, she bought drugs from the wrong people and couldn’t pay them back,” I say, staring down at my hands. “So, I had to go rescue her.”
Firefly climbs out of bed, wrapping herself in the sheet while crossing the room toward me slowly.
“She begged me for more drugs while I was getting her out,” I whisper roughly. “Could barely look me in the eye.”
Pain slices through Ophelia’s expression.
“And because apparently the universe hates me…” I bark out another humorless laugh. “I picked up from Tracy’s cousin. Dumpster Craig.”
Her eyes widen.
“That’s why Tracy knew my apartment,” I say as guilt crashes visibly across her face.
“Hayden… I—”
“I never touched that girl.” My voice sharpens fiercely. “Not a fucking chance in hell,” I say as her eyes fill with tears.
“I know that now,” she says, and I grab her waist, pulling her flush against me.
“No one touches me after you, Firefly. You ruined me for everybody else,” I breathe, gliding my lips against hers. “And don’t ever tell me to never touch you again or that I’m everything everyone has ever told you. So now, you owe me an apology.” I smirk, but she kisses me.
Hard. Emotional and apologetic. Full of all the things neither of us knows how to say properly.
When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in slowly.
“I’m going to the store,” I murmur. “I need food if I’m cooking.”
“Please come back fast,” she whispers, and I nod.
“When I get back. I want you on your knees, gagging on my cock,” I growl, then kiss her one more time before leaving.
The grocery store trip takes maybe forty minutes total.
Eggs. Bacon. Pancake mix because Firefly likes breakfast sweet.Domestic Shit. Normal shit.
I catch myself smiling like an idiot halfway through checking out, imagining her barefoot in my kitchen, stealing food off my plate while wearing my clothes.Hope.Again. Always fucking hope with her.
But the second I pull into my apartment lot… something feels wrong.
My stomach drops instantly.
The front building door hangs slightly open.
No! No, no no no.
I abandon the groceries right there.
Every instinct inside me starts screaming while I sprint upstairs, taking two steps at a time. The apartment door is cracked. Splintered near the lock.
Panic detonates instantly.
“OPHELIA!”
