Page 17 of Unwanted

So many laughs.

So many tears.

My eyes can’t help but dart around, and I see the moment Arlo remembers it all too.

He clears his throat, and I raise my phone between us, changing the subject. “Need me to read them out for you?”

He wraps his long fingers around my wrist, the grip alone heating my skin. I watch him as he tugs on my arm till the screen is directly in front of his face.

His eyes find mine. “I’m good, I know where this is.”

The rest of the car ride goes by quietly but not awkwardly. I watch the suburban scenery pass me by, and before I know it, he’s pulling into the driveway of the place I’m staying.

Opting against paying for a hotel indefinitely, I found an Airbnb that had the month available. I’m not entirely sure if a month will be enough time or if it’ll be too much time, but it’ll do while I work everything out with Lennox.

I open the car door and am about to step out when I turn to face Arlo. “You don’t have to wait,” I say awkwardly. “I’m assuming you were at the hospital to see Lennox, but you don’t need to wait to go back there. You probably have a million other things to do and I don’t want to hold you up.”

My mouth doesn’t stop moving, the words just a string of nonsensical shit as I try to be less of a hassle but manage to sound like a rambling idiot.

“I can wait,” he says, the corner of his mouth curling up in the slightest hint of a smile at my discomfort. “I actually came to pick up something off Clem before I saw you, so I need to go back either way.”

“Okay.” I nod and point between him and the house. “Do you want to come inside? I don’t have anything to offer, but it’s better than sitting in the car.”

“Relax, Frankie,” he says soothingly, and I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do with his niceness, especially after he made it very clear I am the last person he wants to be around, but I want it. Even if I don’t deserve it, I want it and I’ll take it. “I’ll come inside. Do what you need to do and we’ll get back to the hospital when you’re ready.”

My stomach rolls with anxiety as he follows me inside, unsure of what’s happening here but greedy for even the smallest amount of time with him. It’s a clusterfuck, but regardless of our history, being around him right now gives me comfort.

He may be a different man, and I know there’s more than just a black cloud hanging over us, but he’s still familiar. He’s still safe.

He’s still my home.

I walk us through the front door and straight to the kitchen. I pull out two bottles of water provided by the owners and leave them on the counter.

“I won’t be long,” I say hurriedly. “Have some water and I’ll be out soon.”

He nods as he takes in his surroundings, and I just stare at him, allowing myself to memorize this new version of him.

A version that is so different from the man I left behind. The version I think, maybe, he was always supposed to be.

“Arlo,” I call out. He brings his attention to me. “I know it’s all complicated, and you didn’t have to, but thank you for getting me out of there.”

He opens his mouth, but I put a hand up, silencing him. “Please, just let me thank you.”

Inhaling, he runs a hand down his face, and when his eyes land on me again, the softness returns. “You’re welcome, Frankie.”

* * *

As quick as I want the shower to be, the warm water feels like heaven on my skin. Two days in the same clothes, coupled with the permanent sheen of anxiety and sweat that coated my skin, this is exactly what I need.

I let the heat of the spray loosen my muscles and try, for just a moment, to stop thinking about everything on the other side of this door. But every thought bleeds into another as my mind alternates between Arlo and Lennox, sifting through every exchange, searching for clues.

Searching for a reason to stay, or maybe a reason to go.

I know I’m needed here, and I want to be here, but I underestimated how much time had passed and how much damage I had done by leaving.

Especially with Lennox.

I anticipated it with Arlo. I anticipated any hostility and resentment, welcomed it even, but with Lennox I overlooked the pain he would feel over me leaving.

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