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“I’m… nobody.” The words tear at my soul. “You could interchange me with anyone and it wouldn’t make a difference. People forget all about me—my name, my purpose, my place in the world. None of it matters because I’m just there to take up space.”
Linda stalks over to me and grabs my shoulders. “You think life doesn’t make us all feel like we’re side characters sometimes? There are moments when I wonder if all I’ll ever be is the housekeeper. I wanted family, children. Instead, I ended up here.”
“You don’t get it.”
“I do get it. And here’s the stone-cold truth. My job doesn’t define me. Society doesn’t define me. I matter. I’m the main lead of my story. And you are the main lead of yours.” Her gaze softens. “You don’t have to be afraid to receive the love you deserve. It was meant for you. For you.” She shakes me gently. “And you know how I know that?”
“How?”
“Because Hawk chose you. And I trust his judgment more than anyone else’s.” She smirks. “Though that faith’s been getting rocky lately. The boy turned reckless when he lost you.”
I shake my head even as my own smile inches up. “He can be intense.”
“Don’t I know it.” She smirks. “Trust Hawk, Shanel. But more importantly, trust yourself. Just because you don’t feel like the lead, it doesn’t change the fact that you are. A queen stuck in a pig pen is still a queen.” She taps my temple. “What needs to change is in here. She has to remember who she is. And then she can go about changing her environment.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Think about…” Linda glowers. “Are you still leaving?”
“I can’t be here. It’s too close to Hawk.”
“We just had a great conversation!”
“And I’m grateful for it. But I still need to go.”
“Shanel…”
I grab my suitcase and lug it off the bed. Walking away from Linda, I reach out to open the door when it flies open on its own.
Hawk steps inside.
My stomach drops to my toes. “H-Hawk?”
He moves forward, swallowing up the already cramped space with his massive presence.
As he presses in, I shuffle back.
His attention is locked on my face. Those eyes are a stormy ocean blue, and so furious that I can hardly stand to look straight at them.
As if she can sense the tension, Linda eases out of the room and gently closes the door.
My eyes follow her, wishing she’d whisked me away too.
Now who’s the coward, Linda?
Glancing back at Hawk sends a fresh wave of tension through my body. Even with the anger on his face, he still exudes a dangerous allure.
Structured jaw. Shoulders a mile wide. Dark hair sexily rumpled.
His eyebrows are two thick V’s above eyes of steel.
In this moment, I’m torn between happiness and fear.
On the one hand, I’m glad to see him up and about. Last night, he seemed to have been at death’s door.
On the other hand…
Pressure builds in my chest as I knock against the wall.
