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“No, it’s not funny.” That doesn’t stop him from chuckling. “But in a way, it kind of is because you have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about.”
I wish my heart wouldn’t swell the way it does at his reaction. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. That’s not what it looked like. I know, people say that when they get caught and don’t want to fess up. But it’s really not like that at all.”
He leans down, a grin touching the corners of his mouth as he parts my hair to get a better look at what I know has to be a bump on my head.
“If it interests you, I’ll tell you the truth. You’re the only woman I’ve been with since we… became involved. I don’t exactly make it a habit of sleeping around. Women are a complication I can’t really have in my line of work.”
There goes my heart, swelling again. I hate to think he has this power over me, but I wouldn’t change it even if I could. Because it feels too good being cared for now, with him being so gentle and tender. It doesn’t mean I’m not annoyed with him for being so secretive, but the good feelings are muting all the negative ones right now.
He picks up a second ice pack lying on the nightstand and flops down beside me, and I stroke the side of his face. He lets out a long sigh. “Now. On to you. What are you doing sneaking away from school? This was a bad idea, and you know it. I can only defend so many bad decisions before you have to be punished.”
“I understand. But like I said, I had to see you.”
“Let’s put that aside for a minute.” Like somehow, the thought of it makes him unhappy. Is it that unthinkable, somebody caring about him? “How did you manage it? I know someone must’ve helped you.”
I nibble on my bottom lip. “I don’t want to get anybody into trouble.”
Lucas lifts a brow. “Answer the question. Who did it?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to tell him, but I can only hope I don’t regret this. “It was Ren. He saw me follow you out to the helipad and offered to get a helicopter for me.”
Lucas snorts, “How helpful of him.”
“Please, don’t get me in trouble with him. I already have enough—”
He holds a finger to his lips, shaking his head. “Relax. Getting yourself all worked up in the pain you’re in will only make things worse. I hear what you’re saying. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about him helping you sneak around.”
“He was only trying to help.”
“Was he?” He blows out another sigh, his eyes narrowing. “Or was this something else entirely, a move on Xander’s part? Maybe he was helping to get rid of you?”
How could I be so stupid?
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
“Obviously.”
“Don’t be mad at me. Please.” There’s only so much I can take right now.
“I can’t help feeling a little irritated with you, but that’s because you put yourself in danger. I’m not worth that. I wish you’d get that through your head.”
“I wish you would get it through your head that I disagree.”
He snickers. “Anyway, I hope you learned a lesson. Don’t ever get in the way when men are fighting. You never know what’s going to happen.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll remember. So anyway, what happened? Did they run off?”
“Yeah, something like that. Don’t worry about them.”
I don’t know if I like being brushed off like this. It sounds like he’s hiding something. He’s lucky I don’t feel like arguing about it—or about anything. It’s too nice being in bed, just the two of us, nobody getting between us.
I close my eyes, content to rest beside him. It doesn’t seem like he’s resting much. He’s tense, in a strained kind of mood. After a little while, he gets up with a pained grunt and goes to the bathroom.
By the time he comes back, he’s made up his mind. “I think it would be best if we hung around here today. Take it easy, lay low.”
Nothing would make me happier. It’s not until I hear him say it that I know I was hoping he would all along. “Where is here, anyway?”
