Page 9 of Puck Blocked
“Peppermint tea still your go-to?” I ask, noticing the cup hasn’t been touched either.
“You remember that?”
“I remember everything about you, Tanna,” I admit.
“It’s been years, Luke. I wouldn’t expect you to remember anything.”
“We spent our lives growing up together. That’s not something I’d forget.” I lower my ass onto the floor, positioning myself right next to the bed. “Are you going to tell me who did that to your throat now?” The question tumbles out of my mouth without me meaning to.
“I told you I was in a car accident,” she says, but she won’t look at me. Something keeps her from being able to lie to my face.
“I’m not buying that. Besides, you don’t end up with handprints around your neck from a car accident.” I point out the obvious.
“I don’t want you to do anything, Luke. I’m going to stay here until I’m better, and then I’ll get out of your hair. I’ll go home.”
“You’re not going back, Tanna. I don’t care if I have to lock you in this damn house. I’m not letting you go back to the fucker who did that.” I gesture a hand towards her face.
She wants to go back. Is she fucking out of her mind?
“I can’t stay here,” Montana says. “I have… responsibilities. I have a life.”
“Being used as some asshole’s punching bag isn’t a life, Tanna. Why didn’t you call me sooner? This isn’t the first time this has happened, is it?” I already know the answer, but I’d like to hear it from her.
She doesn’t respond, holding out the plate to me instead. “I’m really tired.”
I take it and set it on the nightstand. “Just… I mean, you’re not… You don’t want to…?”
Fuck, how the fuck do I ask this?
“No.” She sighs. “I’m not going to try to hurt myself. I wouldn’t do that,” she says before adding, “I’m not my brother.”
“I know you’re not him. Trust me, I know.” I peer up at her from the floor. “I miss him, but truth is… I think I miss you more, and that makes me feel like the shiftiest fucking friend in the world, Tanna.”
“You are far from a shitty friend. Sean was lucky to have you.”
“You have me too, Tanna.”
She nods her head but doesn’t say anything.
I wait until the silence starts to choke me. Then I push to my feet and make my way over to the door. I leave it open wide and then do the same with mine. Before I climb into bed. I’m fucking exhausted but I know I’m not getting an ounce of sleep tonight. Not with Montana in the room next to me. So close yet so far.
Chapter Five
“Did you really think you could hide from me?” Andrew yanks at my hair, and my head snaps backwards at an angle no one’s neck should be in.
“I didn’t… I’m sorry.” I push up on my tiptoes in an attempt to ease some of the tension on my scalp. It doesn’t help. Andrew just pulls tighter.
“You didn’t? What the fuck did I tell you, Montana?” The back of his hand lands across my cheek before he tosses me to the ground like a rag doll.
I land on my hip, on an already healing bruise, and wince when a sharp pain travels up my side. “I… I…” I don’t know what he wants me to say. I need to figure out the right thing to say, how to get myself out of this mess. I knew I should have just gone home.
“You what? Just wanted to whore around with some hotshot hockey player? Be the next puck bunny in his bed? He doesn’t want you, Montana. No one wants you. You’re pathetic. I mean, just look at you.” Andrew kicks me in the stomach, and I curl in on myself to help lessen some of the blow.
“No… Please stop,” I cry out. “Andrew, please, I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? You’re always fucking sorry, Montana,” he hisses back at me.
“Tanna, wake up,” a familiar voice calls out to me. I look around the dark room. Why is Luke here? “Montana, it’s just a dream. Wake up.”
