Page 24 of Puck Blocked
“Yeah, you are. You do know he has your name inked on his body, right?”
“We’re friends.”
“Yeah, 'cause I go around and get tattoos for all my friends.” Aliyah laughs.
“It’s not like that.” I can feel my face heating up.
“But you want it to be like that, don’t you?” She raises a perfectly manicured brow in challenge.
“I… I’m not in the right headspace to start a relationship with anyone,” I tell her instead of answering.
“I know a lot of people would tell you to take your time, heal yourself, make sure your brain is right and cleared of all that bullshit… But if Luke makes you happy, don’t deny yourself because of what anyone else says or thinks. Because of what society tells you is the standard. You do what feels right for you.”
“I’m not sure I can trust my feelings right now…”
Chapter Twelve
Ilook at the time on my phone as my head hits my pillow. It’s late and the last message I got from Montana was over an hour ago. I want to call her. I need to hear her voice.
Finding her number in my contacts, I start typing out a message to see if she’s awake when my phone rings and her name pops up on my screen. I hit the accept button and bring the phone to my ear. “Hey, I was just about to text you.”
She doesn’t say anything, but I can hear her crying. It’s not loud but I can tell. “Tanna, what’s wrong?” I sit up on the bed.
“I… I just wanted to hear your voice. I’m sorry.”
“You can call me anytime, Montana, always. What happened?” I try again. “Is Aliyah still there?”
“Yeah, she’s asleep in the other room.”
“Okay.” Shit, what the fuck do I say?
“I’m scared.”
“No one is getting inside that house, Tanna. I promise you.”
“That’s not why I’m scared. I’m afraid of going to sleep,” she admits. “Every time I do, I see him. I don’t want to wake up screaming with Aliyah in the other room. What if she hears me?”
“Did you not sleep last night?” I ask. This is the second night I’ve been away.
“No. I couldn’t…”
“I have an idea. Plug your phone into a charger. I’m going to call you on video,” I tell her.
“Okay.”
“Be right back.” I cut the call and hit the video chat icon. Montana answers and her face comes into view. “Fuck, babe, how long have you been crying? Why didn’t you call me sooner?”
Her eyes are red and raw. “I didn’t want to bother you.”
“You are never a bother.” I set the phone up on the bedside table and lie on my side, facing the screen. “Put your phone next to you.”
Montana mirrors my movements, her phone on the nightstand and her head on the pillow.
“We’re going to go to sleep together, just like this. If you have a nightmare, I’ll hear you,” I tell her.
“I’m sorry,” she says.
“Don’t be. I like sleeping with you.”
