Fuck.
I’m so damn screwed.
I clutchthe bag with the medication and bottled water in my hand, striding toward my Escalade. I’m relieved when I see Peyton sitting there.
At least she didn’t try to run off. Not that I’d blame her after the way I’ve been acting.
I climb inside, then hand her the bag. “I got you a couple of different brands. I wasn’t sure which you preferred. Here’s some water, so you can take it now.”
“Thanks.” She smiles at me warmly before digging through the bag. “I normally don’t take medication, but this thing is really throbbing.”
I grab the box from her hand, open it, and pop two pills from the foil. I hand it to her, then open the bottle of water. She lets me do it without protesting, indicating how much pain she’s in.
“Thanks for this. And the shoes. Though you didn’t need to buy me three pairs.”
“I thought you liked shoes?”
She smiles. “I do. I just don’t like owing?—”
“You don’t.” My hand cups her face. My voice is low. “You don’t owe me anything.”
She looks skeptical. “Are you... sure?”
“Positive.” I lean closer, letting her see the truth in my eyes. “I’m not buying you things to get something from you. I do it because I want to. I want to help you.”
Her eyes are misty with tears. “That means a lot. I’m just... not used to that.”
A slow smile curls my lips. “Well, get used to it. At least with me.”
I remove my hand, already feeling the loss. Touching her feels like standing too close to a fire. I know I’m going to get burned, but damned if I don’t want to let itburn me alive.
Stop it.
You can’t.
She’ll be the one to get hurt.
And I’d rather end myself than hurt her.
Even with the warning circling inside my head, the intrusive thoughts slip in. How good she felt in my arms. The way she leaned into me in the store. The way her silky hair tickled my nose when I lifted her from my vehicle. The way she trusts me, even when she’s mad or frustrated with me.
I smile. The way she got jealous because Tabitha flirted with me at the diner.
Then reality settles in.
Whatever this thing is between us, it can’t become anything.
But a part of me wishes like hell it could.
12
PEYTON
I have whiplash from Daltyn’s personality changes today. And it’s only been about twenty-four hours.
He pulls up to the cabin. There’s a box sitting on the porch.
“That’s probably your boot,” he says, already exiting the vehicle.
