Page 95 of Kortlek

Blair’s situation is vastly different from mine. However, when the time came for her to face her abusers and get her power back, Arlo helped her, mainly from the shadows. Everything else was Blair’s doing. She took the life of the man who ruined her life, took away her childhood, and had her imprisoned.

Why did he trust her back then more than he trusts me now?

Am I that pathetically incapable of handling things on my own that he won’t let me do it? Why do people around me deem me so powerless, so useless? It doesn’t help that my self-esteem had taken a massive hit from the time I’d been with Wyatt.

So, now that I’m better, both mentally and physically, why can’t they trust me?

The moment I hear the front door open again, I open my eyes. Cove strolls in, taking off his coat. It takes him a split second to notice my state and the way tears blur my vision. He drops the small bag of donuts on the floor, and without missing a beat, he’s right in front of me, on his knees, inspecting me for any visible injuries.

“What’s wrong, bunny?”

His soft voice just makes me break. Instead of responding verbally, I start crying loudly. My arms wrap around his neck, and he instantly hugs me back, holding me close to his body. He strokes my hair softly, not asking any more questions.

Cove lets me use him as a shoulder to cry on, and I let it all out. All of my frustrations and fury come out in tears, soaking his shirt and staining my face. I struggle to breathe, and I don’t know how to fix what I just ruined.

There’s not a scenario in which I could’ve predicted this. If Arlo doesn’t speak to me again, I won’t blame him.

Because all of this is my fault, and it’s only now that I realize how heavy the words about Blair were. I can’t blame him if he doesn’t even look at me again.

I wouldn’t either if I were in his shoes.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Cove puts a fresh cup of tea in front of me. I sniff a little, wiping my eyes with the back of my palm. I stopped crying a while ago, but the ache still lingers in my chest, and the overwhelming sensation of guilt doesn’t seem like it’ll disappear anytime soon.

I bring the cup to my lips, savoring the taste, and then put it back on the small coffee table of Cove’s living room. He sits beside me, and I immediately lean my cheek on his shoulder. His arm wraps around me protectively, giving me a soft squeeze.

“How do I fix this, Cove?”

He sighs. “Well, apologizing works. Though, in your case, you’ll probably end up doubling down even more and worsening the situation. I’d say give Arlo time to cool off, then give it a shot.’’

I hate when he’s right.

“Do you think it’s true?” I ask, glancing up at him.

“What is, bunny?”

A small knot forms in my throat. “I did say he’d pick Blair over me. Do you think that’s true?”

“Not really, no. I think he’d save one and give his life for the other. But that was a low blow. You know that Blair has no one else but him, right?”

“Stop making me feel more guilty,’’ I mumble.

It’s true, though.

I’ve never seen a mutually obsessive relationship as the one Arlo and Blair have. Back when they met, Blair was possessive of him to the point he couldn’t leave the apartment without her. It was justified. She was terrified of being abandoned, and he had no problem showing her that he’d always be there.

It wasn’t until a year and a half ago that she started finally living a life of her own, without having Arlo by her side all the time.

“I’m sorry,’’ he apologizes, and I snort.

“Do you think Blair will hate me for what I said?”

“Who knows? And also, who cares? You’ll always have me.’’

Cove leans back into the couch, and I straddle his lap, nuzzling my face in the crook of his neck. He chuckles, his hands wrapping around my waist as he pulls me closer. My eyes close on their own accord, and I allow the silence to relax me.

Being in his presence, being held by him, erases all of my worries. The guilt is still there, and the thoughts of how to fix what I ruined try to resurface, but a single squeeze from Cove shoves them to the back of my mind.

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