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“Why don’t you just take me home?” she asks. “My father still has connections. He can call in some favors...”
I sit down on the edge of the bed, looking right at her.
“I want to see this through, Aurora.”
“Why? You don’t have to,” she says stubbornly, and pulls away when I put a hand on her calf.
“I want to,” I insist, and she scoffs, rolling over onto her side.
“You don’t have to pretend with me, Nico. I know what this is.”
“Do you?” I ask, getting a little angry. “Because I sure fucking don’t.”
“You’re just having your fun,” she says flatly. “And when we get back home, this will all be over.”
“You’ll be safe,” I say, not wanting to get roped into a “what are we” conversation.
“Yeah,” she says. “I’ll be safe. I’ll sleep on the couch tonight,” she says, and stands up to go and empty her still full plate into the trash.
“Fuck,” I curse again, running a hand through my hair, as she walks out onto the terrace where the pool is. She clearly needs some space and I’m going to give it to her.
I go out to the car briefly to get my guns out from under the seat of the truck and I start cleaning them in the living room. I might as well, since it’s not like Aurora’s going to talk to me anytime soon.
But really, what do I expect? She heard me say that I’m stuck with her. Anyone’s feelings would be hurt. I need to apologize. She shouldn’t have to hurt because I was callous with my words.
I’m not so good at apologies, though, especially when it comes to women. I groan and put down my guns after about half an hour, going outside to see Aurora sunbathing in her bikini in a pair of sunglasses.
My eyes rove over her body but I make myself focus on her face.
I sit next to her on the ground and she doesn’t move away, so I’m a little encouraged.
“Aurora,” I call, and she tilts her head slightly and I guess she’s looking at me. I can’t really tell because of the dark sunglasses. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” she asks flippantly.
“You know what,” I mumble, but apparently, she’s going to make me say it. “I’m sorry for what you heard me say on the phone. I didn’t mean it.”
“Didn’t you?”
“Dante offered for you to stay with him and Mia,” I say quietly. “I said I wanted to stay with you, instead.”
“Why?” she asks, sitting up and frowning. “Why would you want to stay when you could be rid of me?”
“I...I don’twantto be rid of you, Aurora.” I say hesitantly, stumbling over my words. “I’m not really good at this whole...talking things out.”
“I need a little more than that,” she says dryly.
“I like being here with you,” I say finally, and it feels like it takes a lot out of me to say that. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you.”
“And?”
“Andwhat?”I groan.
“And you want to protect me,” she says.
“I want to protect you,” I agree. “That’s what I’ve done, this whole time. Right?”
“Right,” she says, smiling just a little. “And part of you likes being stuck with me.”
