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When she’d taken a few bites, I relaxed slightly, but I didn’t have an appetite. The room blurred around me.
After she’d eaten her fill and pushed her plate back, she said, “You should eat.”
I didn’t feel hungry. Irritation pricked my skin. My stomach tightened with guilt. I plated the rest of the pancakes and covered them in case I felt like eating later.
“My parents are going to pick me up. I can spend the day with them. I’m sure you have work you need to do.”
“I can take care of you.” I didn’t like her not being in my space, but she was right that I should be on the streets.
“And you have, but I want to see my parents. It’s hard to explain, but I feel unsettled after last night. I just need to see them.” Her voice shook with vulnerability.
“Of course. Do you need me to drive you?” I turned, leaning on the counter.
“They’re picking me up soon.” Her expression was carefully blank.
I nodded tightly, not wanting her to go but having no reason to ask her to stay. If she felt better with her parents, then that’s where she needed to be. I tried not to think about the fact that maybe I wasn’t her safe place. It was with her parents.
I helped her shower, washing her hair and soaping her body so she wouldn’t need to raise her arms over her head. I felt slightly better afterward. It eased the desire inside me to take care of her, even as she got ready for her parents to pick her up.
When they arrived, I braced myself for their disapproval.
“Thanks for taking care of our girl,” her father said when they arrived.
“Of course.” She was mine to care for, wasn’t she?
Or was leaving her way of giving me space?
As we walked them out to their car, Remi placed her hand on my arm. “I don’t want you to feel responsible.”
“That’s not really up to you. I feel how I feel.”
She winced slightly at my words. “I wish you wouldn’t. The only one at fault here is the guy who robbed me.”
“You’re right about that.” He was the criminal, but I couldn’t shake the sense of responsibility. That I could have done more.
She smiled softly. “I’ll see you later.”
Not wanting to be overly demonstrative with her parents right there, I kissed her softly on the lips, lingering only a second longer than I should have.
“Take it easy,” I said gruffly, helping her get into the backseat. Watching her ride away with her parents, I couldn’t help but think I should let her go. She deserved someone who was able to give her everything she deserved.
