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I’d started to wonder if I was, in fact, the person Brendan said I was. That I was manipulative, cruel, sick, and a slut.
Instead, I let Selena die. She simply faded away into nothing, each piece of her erased like writing in the sand at high tide.
“Give me a second, and I’ll bring you your drug of choice.”
Cat nip lol
“I don’t want you in my house.”
She was gripping her hands together to try to hide the shaking, but she was fucking terrified. Of me?
When I turned, it was to find Thea watching me like a hawk. I just let her. Whatever she needed to feel safe.
The intimate images of me strewn across the internet. How a photo of me had been listed on an escort site with my phone number alongside it for booking.
But I’m sorry you had to deal with his assholery on an already crappy day.”
“We can’t always see a person’s capacity for evil. But that doesn’t make us culpable. It just means we see the good in those around us.”
“You always did like your weird little alone time.”
We’d lost him years ago, but I still felt the ache of missing him every time I started something new.
My drug of choice was reading.
mine. “He’ll have it fixed in no time, and then you won’t have to stress anymore.
“But we can’t let one bad experience sour the rest of our lives. We can’t let the bad win. Make us stop living. If we lock ourselves down, we don’t just keep out the bad. We keep out the good, too.”
“Because everything about you screams that you’ve been fighting alone for too damn long, Thorn. You need someone to help carry the weight for a little while. I might not be
able to fix everything, but I can help carry the load.”
A demand that I be that someone.
“Do you share your burdens, Shepard?”
muscle twitched in my cheek. What the hell was she hiding from?
I couldn’t stand the idea of Shep thinking I was frightened of him.
I didn’t want to be like this. Yet I didn’t know how to stop.
I’m never going to judge you for what you need to feel safe.”
I was sure if someone studied the creature, they’d find he was some sort of mutant crossbreed and not a cat at all.
“You didn’t have to do all of this.”
“I like you. Even when you were prickly as all hell, I admired it. There’s something real about you. An honesty you don’t see a lot these days. And there’s kindness. You might try to hide it beneath those thorns you love so much, but I’ve seen it. And, somehow, it’s more potent since you’re not using it for show. You’d rather have no one see you extending a hand to someone else. That’s why.”
With those parting words, I walked away.
How had Russ known I rode a bike?
“You’re worthy, Shepard Colson.
“Why don’t you come inside? I’ll reheat the takeout, and you can help me feed the kittens.”
To begin to let people in. To let Shep in.
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to take this step.”
“So damn proud of you, Thorn. How about we celebrate with some Indian food?”
His goodness and light felt like everything that was just out of reach for me. Maybe something I didn’t even deserve.
“Is this about Brendan Boseman?” I stopped dead. Blood roared in my ears as my pulse thrummed. I turned slowly around. “What did you say?” Hurt swirled in Shep’s amber eyes. “I know,
And then my whole world came crashing down.
“Did you ever consider that it was none of your business?” she shouted.
held on to her as she cried, each sob shredding my chest.
“I trust you more than anyone, other than my best friend, Nikki.”
“Thorn. You only let me in your house for the first time a few days ago. Not sure you’re ready for that.”
“It’s a hell yes.”
If I couldn’t even make it inside a diner without jumping the man, how would I handle living with him?
Cold showers. I’d be taking lots of cold showers.
“Don’t think I don’t want you there, Thorn. I want you wherever I can get you. Why do you think I’ve been coming to the bakery every day for months? I don’t even like sweets.”
“Not much of a reader, but I can see that I’ve been missing out.”
“I am going to fucking kill him.”
God, the feel of her mouth. Warm, wet heat. But so fucking soft. Delicate. Just like my Thorn.
It was time. Time to start living.
“Tell me what those pretty little fingers are doing, Thorn.”
Her pale green eyes flashed in the moonlight. “What your fingers wouldn’t.”
name. “So, if you need to go, then I go, too. Wherever you need to be, that’s where I am.”
