“Sorry.” I clear my throat. “Go on.” Damn. That sounded more like a threat than a gentle nudge.
She nods, but keeps her eyes on me. “He told me if I made a noise, any noise at all, Elle would hear. As hard as it was to be smothered, I welcomed it. To the verge of almost passing out, but I’d do it to protect her.” She looks away. “I’ve made so many mistakes. Every choice I made was because I thought it was best for her. Turns out I—ugh.” Rubbing her face, she shakes her head.
That’s enough fucking soul baring for the night. I can’t take another word. Years of sexual abuse by the man who was supposed to be her fucking protector, her failsafe, the man whose job it was to stand guard against the rest of the world to make sure, to guarantee, that his woman was safe and protected. I rub my eyes hard, breathing deeply and counting to ten.
…nine…ten. “Mouse, you and Axelle have been through some shit. You may have walked away from all that, but you’re still feeling it, and it’s clear she’s still feeling it.”
She takes an audible breath.
I cross the space between us and kneel in front of her. “There’s a place. It’s only for women, and I think you two could, I don’t know, talk to someone.”
“Like counseling?”
“Yeah, kinda like that.”
She shakes her head. “My insurance doesn’t kick in for another two months, and paying out of pocket isn’t—”
“It won’t cost you—”
“No, Blake. I can’t accept any more charity from you. You’ve done enough with the car.”
Fucking Raven. That was supposed to stay a secret. Chicks always stick together.
“Seems I need to have a talk about what it means to keep a secret with Mrs. Slade.”
“I wanted to thank you for that, but you were avoiding me. And when I saw you in the weight room, well…” Her cheeks and neck flush red.
“Well? You took me out with that kickass flying knee.”
Her soft giggle penetrates the room along with my chest, spreading warmth behind my ribs. “I had to teach you a lesson.”
I chuckle. “Fuck, Mouse. Next time give me a three count… final warning… something.”
The sound of our laughter swirls around us, and in a moment of delirium, I can’t help but think we laugh well together.
I place my hand on her knee and squeeze. “Raven went through some shit last year. She opened a non-profit place called Raven’s Nest. They provide this kind of stuff to women and kids who’ve been through similar shit. It’s free.”
Her thick eyelashes flutter over her glistening eyes, and she nods.
“I could make a call—”
“I’ll do it.” Her reply comes out quickly, as if she’d made up her mind a while ago. “Raven and I are going out this weekend. I’ll talk to her then.”
They’re going out? Cool. “Okay.”
I stand up and step back. Being so close to her, in her bedroom while she’s sitting on the bed, is doing fucked-up things to my body. As much as I want to stay, to crawl into bed and hold her in my arms while she sleeps, I know I need to bolt. Get the fuck out before I say or do something I can’t take back.
“You cool?”
She stands and gathers her hair together, pulling the wavy locks in a bunch over one shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Elle’s out for the night, I’m sure. She’ll have me to face in the morning, along with a nasty hangover.”
Digging my hands deep into my pockets so that I don’t use them to pull her closer or tip her mouth toward mine, I step toward her bedroom door. “You have my number. Call me if you need anything. Doesn’t matter what time.”
We move to her front door, and the air crackles with expectation. Not going to kiss her, not going to kiss her.
I pull open the door and step out. “Goodnight.”
She stands in the doorway, her hands shoved in her sweatshirt pockets. “Goodnight, Blake. Thanks again. I don’t know what I would’ve done tonight if you hadn’t come by.”
“What are friends for?” Shit. That sucked. “See you tomorrow.”
I turn and head to my car before she closes the door. If I stand there for another second, I’m not going to be responsible for what kind of naked happens next.
She’s got an ugly past, a teenage kid who’s working through some crap, and a serious case of the emotional yo-yos. The whole situation screams trouble. Annoyance. Waste of time.
But all I hear is, Don’t let her go.
Thirteen
Blake
“You’re kickin’ ass, man. I’ve never seen you so quick.” Rex sidles up to me at my locker. “Been sparring partners for what, seven years? You’re in the best shape of your life.”
I shrug it off like it’s no big deal, but inside I’m celebrating. I’ve been busting my ass to get in shape for this fight. Winning this fight against Wade puts me up for title contention. And there’s no way I’ll accept anything less than a victory.
“Fuck three weeks. You fought Wade tonight, he’d be KO’d first round.”