Page 11 of Tell Me You Need Me

“Good.” Willa kisses Teddy on the cheek. “Night, West,” she says, passing by me.

“Good night.”

“Can I get you anything?” Teddy asks when we’re alone. I don’t think she wants to know what I’d like her to get for me. “You didn’t eat your dinner.” I spot the tray on the kitchen island and realize she was cleaning it up.

“I wasn’t hungry.”

“Is everything okay?” Her brows pull together in concern she shouldn’t have for me with how I’ve been treating her.

“No.” I decide to answer her honestly because since I laid eyes on her, everything is not okay. She’s not ready for that entire answer yet, though, so I keep it simple. I grab my tray from earlier and head to the sink to help her. She shouldn’t have to clean up after everyone, especially not me.

“You want to elaborate or you want me to leave you alone?” she asks, probably thinking I’ll choose the latter. I love that she pushes me for information. That she’s not timid when she’s around me. It’s so fucking alluring.

“You can stay.” Teddy shifts slightly to create space for me.

“You think you could eat now?” She drops her head back to stare up at me. Her thick lashes make her eyes appear wider and more innocent. I should leave her innocence alone.

“I could eat.” My appetite is back and in full force.

Except what I want to eat, I don’t think she’s going to give me.

Chapter Eight

TEDDY

Iwait for him to answer. Now that he's close, I can smell him. West has a clean, earthy smell to him and a touch of fresh cotton. I can tell from his damp hair he showered before he came down to the kitchen. I’m thinking he was in search of food. There wasn’t really any other reason to be down here this late. He sticks to his wing for the most part.

“You don’t have to do that.” He picks up the tray.

“It goes in there.” I motion to one of the cabinets. “I enjoy preparing food,” I tell him as he puts the tray away. “Sit, while I make you something. You look exhausted.”

“Isn’t that the nice way of telling someone they look like shit?” There is a hint of teasing to his tone as he takes a seat at the kitchen island.

“I don’t think you have ever looked like shit a day in your life, West.” I let out a small laugh. No matter the expression on his face, even ones that annoy me, he is still handsome.

“Is that so?” His lips twitch, and I think he was going to smile but stopped short of a smirk.

I’ll take it. It’s nice seeing this more approachable side to him. I’m not sure how long I’ll have it, so I’m going to make this time with him last as long as I can. It’s the most we’ve spokento each other since that night in Karl’s office. It may sound a bit crazy to say, but in a way that I can’t begin to explain, I’ve missed him.

“Fishing for compliments?” I poke at him, wanting to keep this playful banter going.

“No.” He shakes his head, acting as if no one has ever given him one, which is impossible. I don't want to imagine the women he's dated. He watches me as I prepare a simple pasta dish for him. “I’m sleeping for shit,” West finally offers.

“After you eat, I’ll make you one of my hot chocolates. It helps everyone else sleep around here.”

“That sounds nice.”

“Is it because you’re away from home?” I ask. I know it's hard for people to sleep in different places.

“It’s a lot of things.” I nod in understanding. I have been so focused on Willa and Rich, how their lives might change, that I haven’t thought about West and what all he might have given up to be here. A whole life, I’m sure.

“Can I ask where you live?”

“Seattle.” I smile, happy that I’ve got him answering me, so I keep going while I cook, asking him small things about his life. Not trying to push too deep or scare him off. He again reminds me of an animal I’m trying to get close to and have to move slowly.

“That was amazing,” West says when he eats the last bite of pasta.

“I can make more if you like.”

---