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“Well, duh. You come to my house beaten. Of course, I’m going to cry.”
“No.” He shakes his head a fraction. “I mean, before I came here. Your eyes are red and puffy. They were already like that before seeing me.”
I roll my eyes. “Mr Observant. Aren’t we?”
He chuckles before catching my hand in his and tugging me to stand between his parted legs. From this position, even though he’s a giant, I’m a little taller as he sits before me. “Why was my girl crying?”
I shrug. “I’ve had a day.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Garrett, you’ve had a day, too. You don’t want to hear about my bullshit.”
“Actually, your bullshit is all I want to hear about. Please.” His good eye gives me that puppy dog look, and I’m helpless to deny him.
“Fine.” I huff. “I’ve been extra lonely today. I wrote down the shit that happened to me when I was younger, which has brought up feelings I don’t want invading my brain. I gave myself a headache from paint fumes, hoping it would make me high. Which it kind of did, but the headache was the true result. I had a big blow-up with the olds. Especially my dad. Mostly about Tyler, of course, and how it’s not normal to be seeing multiple guys.” I shake my head, trying to clear away the memory of that clusterfuck of an argument. “The whole thing put me in a dark place, and because I don’t have access to music, I had to sing the songs I wanted to listen to. And FYI. I was not put on this earth to sing.” I sigh, my shoulders dropping as the darkness oozes back in. “Some of my singing turned into screaming, and eventually it turned into crying.” I cup the good side of his face. “I was worried about you.”
“Sorry, Baby Girl. I’m pretty sure my dad has my phone. And after going home yesterday after the exam, I decided I wasn’t leaving my mum and sisters alone with that arsehole.”
“So that’s where you were? Just at home?”
He nods. “Yep. Thank fuck the girls slept through this.” He gestures to his face. “He tried to make me cry out in pain with each punch he landed. It really pissed him off that I didn’t make a sound. He even tried to keep quiet with each punch I landed on him, too. He wasn’t as successful as me.” Garrett smirks a little with the good side of his face.
I spend a moment studying his face. The bruised and unbruised parts and the in between. He may be battered right now, but all I see is a fighter. A warrior.
“Thank you for coming to my parents for help,” I whisper.
“They’re good people.”
I nod. “Yes. I just wish they could accept me the way I am.”
“They just need time.” Garrett offers, lifting his bad hand to cup the side of my face.
“This too shall pass,” I whisper, and his brows shoot up at the mantra he taught me.
“You remember.”
“Yeah. It’s honestly what got me through today.” I smile, and he nods in understanding.
“Same.”
As much as I want to kiss him, I hold myself back because he’s sporting a fat cut lip, and I’m terrified of hurting him, even though it’s something we usually like to do to each other.
Garrett showers while I hover by the door, and after a few minutes, he darts his hand out and drags me under the spray of water, soaking my t-shirt through. I squeal, but his hand slaps over my mouth as he pushes me up against the cold tiles in the shower.
“Quiet, Baby Girl. Let’s not unintentionally invite your parents in here with us.” Garrett rasps as he presses his body flush with mine.
I nod, reaching up to peel his hand from my mouth, and then I press my lips to the back of his fingers, where grazes mar his skin.
His long curls fall forward as the water rushes over his head, and I swear I’ve never seen him look younger. He looks very much like his age right now, despite his hulking size.
“I’m glad you came here, and not just because I was lonely. I want you to know you will always have a safe place to go.”
He grins, awkwardly pressing the un-bruised part of his forehead against mine. “You’re my safe place, Baby Girl. Nothing feels more right to me.”
Damn. Those words are enough to make a black-hearted girl swoon.
So naturally, I do what any girl would do.
