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Still out of sorts, I just nodded and scurried off toward the hall so I could get my things and go home. As I headed that way I heard Lyric ask Kace what that was all about, but I just moved faster to get farther away.
From both of them.
They each brought on an abundance of different feelings that I wasn’t doing so well at controlling. With Lyric I would just need to find a way to school my reaction to him, keep my head down and do my job. With Kace that was maybe going to be even harder than dealing with my reaction to Lyric. The feelings that swept through my body and mind when he was around were something I had never felt in my lifetime.
So I was royally screwed.
After grabbing my things, I rushed back down the hall saying goodbye to Braxton along the way. Gemma had left shortly after lunch and Gyth was in the middle of a self-defense class he was teaching. When I reached the lobby Kace and Lyric were gone so I just headed out the front door. The guys still had some sessions and would lock up themselves. The door would alert them if anyone walked in and the security in the place was amazing. And it should be since it was a huge part of their business after all.
The cold air hit my face as the wind howled around me and the dim light of the evening setting in made me a little anxious. I hated always feeling scared when heading to the bus stop alone and riding with strangers. But I only had myself to count on.
A little voice inside whispered that may not be the total truth. All of the guys, even the ladies, had given me their numbers in case I needed anything. But I just couldn’t take them up on it. Trusting others wasn’t something I did anymore. Besides, what if I did and got close to them, then got them hurt?
It would just lead to more heartbreak.
I stepped on the bus and briefly peaked around at the others seated to make sure I didn’t see anyone that seemed suspicious or even the monster himself. Once I was satisfied with what I saw, I put my head down and took a seat. The ride always seemed to take forever even though it wasn’t too far. Being alone in the motel didn’t truly make me feel safe, but it was better than being out in the open.
Climbing off the bus, I looked around as I walked toward my room, the feeling as if someone was watching me vibrating through every cell in my body. Willing my feet and pregnant form to move a little faster, I hurried the best I could to get myself inside. It was honestly silly because if it was Thad or anyone he had hired to come for me, the old, rickety motel door wouldn’t keep them out.
It was a long while later that evening, when nobody kicked in the door or dragged me out against my will, that I finally calmed down enough to get some sleep.
ChapterFive
KACE
I’d managedto stay away most of the day.
But it was time for Teal to head home and I was hot on her heels when she left, following to make sure she was okay just as I had last Friday.
When she got off the bus, it had been clear her senses kicked in and she was monitoring her surroundings. I hated that she felt scared and that my presence may have been what made her feel that way, but I couldn’t bring myself not to watch over her.
After she disappeared inside, I waited for a bit to make sure that nobody was lurking around. While I sat there, I thought about our exchange earlier in the day.
The woman was beautiful, her belly was adorable, her vulnerability pulled me in, and don’t even get me started on her scent. That baby-soft smell lured me in. But when she laughed and let herself just be free, letting go, that was when I almost lost my mind and dragged her in close to kiss her.
That was exactly why I needed to stay far away.
Something had told me that it would be an impossible task.
And it was.
ChapterSix
TEAL
It had beentwo weeks and I was struggling.
Not with the job. I was picking up on that pretty well. And all the guys had been nice, even if Kace stayed away the majority of the time. Another plus was the customers that came in were great. When I was a waitress I encountered some truly awful people. What I was having a hard time with was keeping my distance and not allowing myself to believe that I could have found people I could count on.
That I couldtrust.
All the ladies had been stopping by from time to time. Gemma would pop in to help me a little still and say hi. The other ladies had been sweet when they came in, always letting me know they were down for that girl’s day whenever I was, but they never pushed.
I wanted to go.
Before my mother died when I was fourteen, I did stuff with other kids sometimes but never had any real close friends. After she was gone, I closed myself off and had been just trying to make it through the years of despair that followed my mother’s death, but also because I lost my father who turned into an abusive drunk the moment she was gone.
Still, I kept thinking about the loneliness I felt and didn’t want that for my child. If I didn’t allow anyone in, then my little one would have nobody either. Maybe I could let them in a little, but just keep my distance and be careful?
