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Chapter 5
ARI
“I just feel so bad about it, Ari.”
Poor Thea has apologized at least half a dozen times since she got here ten minutes ago, and I’m ready to move on from it.
“Thea,” I say firmly, holding her watery gaze. “It is not your fault. Stop apologizing. You didn’t do anything wrong. Now, can we please talk about something else?”
Thea sighs, her forehead wrinkling, and she presses her lips into a thin line. After a beat, she takes a deep breath and sighs again. “Okay. Fine. I’ll stop. But I still—”
“Thea.” My voice rises. “Please.” I can’t take listening to her apologize again. Because then it makes me think about all the bad choices I made to end up in that situation, and then I start thinking about Sean, and then—
Then I feel sick to my stomach all over again. And my pulse races, and my chest gets tight, and I’d rather not have a panic attack here in the living room in front of my friend.
“Sorry, sorry. Something else.” Thea scans the room, her eyes skipping from the giant fireplace to the expensive paintings on the wall, to the Headless Horseman sculpture by the window. She shudders at it. “I know I should be used to these things, living in Sleepy Hollow, but that one is extra creepy.”
I follow her gaze, my mouth lifting. “I know. It used to creep me out when I came here in high school. But now he’s growing on me.” In the two days I’ve been here, I’ve begun to think of the guy as sort of a mythical guardian, protecting me from bad guys when Cash isn’t here.
Like today, when Cash had to go back to the office after taking yesterday off to take care of me. He was worried about leaving me alone, even though the house is practically impenetrable, reminding me, “Call me if anything is wrong. Something scares you, or you’re in pain, don’t think you’re bothering me.”
I can’t say I minded his concern. It felt nice. Comforting. And the little flutter in my chest when he hugged me goodbye? Gratitude. That’s all it canbe.
“So staying with Cash…” Thea leans back on the leather cushion and raises her eyebrows at me. Her blue eyes brighten. “Howhasit been staying here with him?”
“It’s been good.”
“Good?” She gives me athat’s-all-you’re-going-to-give-melook.
“Great,” I amend. “Cash has been great. He’s been bringing me food, checking my bandages, dealing with the police…”
Not to mention watching movies all day yesterday with me, keeping me distracted, and not complaining when I fell asleep and drooled all over him.
“And that’s all?” Her tone drips with skepticism. “There’s nothing more to it? Come on, Ari. I’m not blind. I see how your eyes light up when you talk about him. Always have, if I remember correctly from high school.”
I mentally curse old friends who remember everything.
“We’re just friends, Thea. That’s all we’ve ever been. He’s helping me out—I offered to go to your place to stay, but his security is better, and he has all this room—I couldn’t very well say no.”
“So there was nothingelse?”
I shake my head at her. “You know Cash. He doesn’t do relationships, never has. And that’s okay.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Shut up, I tell my annoying inner voice.
“Do you think he still feels that way?” Thea asks, then glances worriedly in the direction of the front door. “He’s not due to come home yet, right?”
I check my watch. “No, he won’t be home until after five. And I do think he feels that way. In all the years I’ve known Cash, he’s never talked about being in a serious relationship. I mean, I guess he could have been in one, and not told me…”
But Cash has always been honest with me. Though I guess it’s not lying if I don’t ask, and he doesn’t tell me.
Ugh. I wouldn’t even be thinking about this if it weren’t for that hug the first night I got here. Then waking up half draped over him yesterday morning, both of us on the couch, his hand resting on my leg. And the hug before he left for work.
Thea’s features are creased in thought, and I can tell she’s mentally debating whether to push for more information. After a few seconds, her face smoothes out, and she says, “Okay. You’re right. He’s just being a good friend.”
Before she can continue on the Cash-relationship line of questioning, her phone dings, and she jolts in surprise. Snatching it up from the coffee table, she frowns at it. “Crap. I didn’t realize it was this late. I have to get to the library. I’m on the evening shift tonight.”
