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It wasn’t like he wanted me here in the first place.
I push that thought away as soon as it surfaces. I’m not being fair. I just need a nice hot bath and some time to collect myself. I’ll feel better then.
As if his ears were ringing, the phone in my lap starts to vibrate. ‘Brat Calling’.
I silence the notification. Guilt chews at my stomach the moment that I do. What if something is actually wrong? The last phone call that I got that gave me a weird feeling was to tell me that my mother died. I anxiously tap my fingers against my leg and chew softly on my bottom lip.
Right at the last possible minute, I answer.
“What the hell were you thinking?!”Alexei’s angry voice shoves itself into my ear so forcefully that I flinch away from my phone. The automatic guilt that floods my body for how angry my brother feels is instant and I hate it.
I don’t want to be made to feel guilty for having a night for myself.
Alexei might be able to be on work mode every single minute of every single day, but not me. Even if he’s refusing to grieve, I’m going to. As such, I’m not going to apologize to him for what I do with my own body to make myself feel a little bit alive at a time like this.
I swallow back as much of my rage and indignation as possible. With every bit of calm that I have left in my system I answer him. “Is everybody okay?”
“Worried half to death, all thanks to you!”Alexei shouts. After a moment he demands.“Well?!!”
He’s waiting for an explanation and an apology.
It takes about half a moment to realize that I don’t want to do this. He’s going to yell and fuss when I get to his place anyway, there’s no point in subjecting myself to it now.
I disconnect the call. Alexei calls right back immediately. I ignore him.
So, naturally, he calls the man sitting in the driver’s seat. I seeBossflash across the center console screen. My eyes narrow and I give the driver a withering glare. He better not answer that damned phone call or I swear I will force him to pull the car over and I will get right back out.
“Don’t. You. dare.” I warn him.
I can tell from the worried look on his face that he’s trying to figure out who he’s more afraid of.
Pissing his boss off, or pissingmeoff.
He gives me a quick once over as I cross my legs and arms at the same time. He seems to come to the conclusion that as I’m the one who can physically put their hands on him at this exact moment, that I’m the threat to his immediate health.
Good. As he should.
The drive turns silent as he moves through the familiar streets of my brother’s territory. I don’t want to think about what’s waiting for me at his house. I don’t want to listen to the lectures or anything else. I want him tounderstand. Of course, I’m not going to let a friend of mine suffer through something alone if there’s anything that I can do about it. I’m not that person.
I force all thoughts of my brother out of my head.
I only have a few precious moments left before reality kicks my ass all over again.
I press my forehead against the tinted glass and let my eyes close. I transport myself inside of my mind right back into my handsome stranger’s bedroom and imagine that the pressure I’m feeling from my crossed legs are his hands gripping me tightly all over again.
I’m going to cling to that vision for as long as I possibly can. Everything else can wait.
CHAPTER TWELVE
LUCA
Ican’t remember the last time I slept through an alarm.
I can’t remember the last time I slept in at all.
My hand stretches out to the side, seeking her warmth. It’s as if my hand has a mind of its own. I want to touch that delicious curve where her thigh meets her hip again. I would gladly take my time to worship those curves once more all over again. Even if every part of me is completely exhausted. But then, my hand finds the edge of the bed - not skin.
I fight the sleep clinging to me, even though I really don’t want it to, and my brow pinches. Confusion and exhaustion are making my brain foggy as I struggle to realize that she’s gone. Where is she?
