Page 45 of Released from the Sin Bin

I can’t see anything, but there’s a knock before the creaking of a door opening.

“I’ve changed my mind.” Carter’s voice comes out in a husk from right inside the hallway.

There’s some giggling before the door creaks closed.

Earlier, I overheard Dani and Renna propositioning him with a threesome. I guess he decided to take them up on their offer.

I lay his shirt out on the bed next to me and let my head fall back on the pillow.

He’s probably right. I don’t have great judgment when it comes to men, but I don’t think Carter falls in that category. I’m done with men.

I’ll be friends with them, but I’m done dating. I can’t be with a guy like Vic. He broke me down to nothing, and I won’t ever let that happen again.

Chapter 11

Carter

I have no complaints about Dani and Renna, but my mind kept wandering back to Willa.

I left her alone to make a point, but I left her alone to fend for herself. I wouldn’t be there to help her up or get her anything if she needed it.

All that talk about me being a good guy was driving me nuts. Doing something I’ve been trained to do does not make me a good guy. Half the guys in the fire department are shit heads that get a rush from running into danger and saving lives. Like me, they are not good guys. Not the kind of good Willa was talking about.

Being careful not to wake her, I roll Dani off me and onto her other side, freeing my arm to stretch. Next, I shimmy my leg out from under Renna. She moans and shifts further away, giving me the perfect opening to slide out of the queen-sized bed.

I look around for my shirt after slipping my boxers and pants back on, but then I remember I threw it in Willa’s face like the dick I am.

Tip toeing through the room, I close the door slowly so it doesn’t make too much noise. It’s late and everyone is sound asleep. Willa is passed out, propped up with pillows just as I left her. Only my shirt is neatly laid out, as if an invisible man is sleeping beside her.

Tossing the shirt to the side, I climb in on top of the covers to fall asleep.

Willa whimpers from the movement, but doesn’t open her eyes.

I can’t tell if she’s dreaming or in pain. Her ankle is still safely propped up and wrapped. Callie and Penny smoked with her again before going to bed. I hate that shit they give her.

I’ve had to carry Penny home after getting messed up on one of those. They swore it wasn’t the same, but Callie likes to experiment with different recipes.

Willa’s hand shoots out and hits my arm as she moans in her sleep. She sucks in a breath with a low snore. If she keeps flailing and making these noises, I won’t be getting any sleep. After sleeping most of the day, I don’t think I’ll be able to go to sleep anyway.

Fluffing my pillow, I get comfortable with my arm under my head and stare up at the fire dancing on the ceiling.

“Vic,” Willa moans. Her hand twitches between us and her fingers reach out. “No,” she whimpers with another twitch, this time her fingers entwine in mine.

I turn my palm open and let her hand fall into it, lacing our fingers together to help calm her dreaming conscience.

With a soft sigh, she relaxes and falls back into a deep sleep, and a soft snore.

The next morning, we drive down without any hiccups. I drive straight to the school’s small hospital, dropping them off at the front door.

Callie rode down with us to talk to the doctor about what she examined within the last twenty-four hours.

They get Willa in a wheelchair and wheel her through the doors, and I take off to the Hockey House to get some more sleep. They don’t need me there.

I’ve done everything I could for her. She’s alive, and my job is done. Save them and pass them off to the medical professionals.

“How’s Willa?” Alex asks as soon as I get through the door.

“She’s alive.” I stop in the kitchen for water before heading to my room, forgetting I left my blanket and pillow on the couch. “Her ankle is broken.” I turn back to get my stuff, but it’s not where I left them. “Luca’s with her at the hospital now.” I look around the living room, but my stuff isn’t there anymore.

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