Page 46 of Between Us

Be mad. Fight with me. Just feel something.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Adrian,” she snaps. “Just go back to your car.”

She’s about halfway to the front steps, and I’ve only made it to the curb when I stop. I don’t turn around though.

“Just,” her voice cracks, and her hands fly up to cover her eyes, “just leave me alone. Please. I thought I could do thi—” Her sobs overtake her, and maybe it’s from the entire day, but this morning didn’t trigger such strong emotions. This is different. This anguish is coming from her fuckingsoul.

With a few quick strides, I’m standing in front of her. I’m too afraid to touch her right now, so I just stand with her. I try to be a force of strength and comfort, and whatever else she needs, at the moment.

“Blake,” I say in a low voice, “I’m not going anywhere. We don’t have to talk about it, I just need you to know that we can. Not tonight. Not even tomorrow. You’re safe with me.”

“You don’t understand,” she hiccups.

“You’re right. I don’t understand, but I want to. I want to know everything about you. And I’ll give you all the same.”

“You say—” She tries to take a deep breath, except she can’t through the tears. “You say that now, but if you knew everything…” Still covering her eyes, she starts to frantically shake her head as her breathing grows more labored.

Closing the small space, but still keeping my arms at my side, I let out a pained sigh. “There’s nothing that would change my mind about you. I’m here for you in any way you’ll have me. This thing between us? It’s not so easily broken. I promise. I know you don’t trust easily, Blake, but I’m begging you to try with me.”

Leaning her head on my chest, I finally have the go ahead to wrap my arms around her—going for the hold that I’ve quickly realized I love for her—an arm tightly around her back and one hand tangled into her silky black hair. We stay like this for a bit. After a few minutes, in the smallest voice I’ve ever heard, she whispers quietly into my chest, “They made my life hell for years.”

I pull her in tighter, and sigh with relief when her arms finally lock around my waist. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but it’s starting to make sense why Blake is so skittish around new people, and why she treats herself like some unimportant afterthought. I have a pretty good idea who those girls are, or at least what they were to Blake.

Nodding against the top of her head, I try my best to comfort her. “I was hoping it wasn’t anything like that,” I admit. “But you survived. You’re here.” So fucking gently, I slide my hands to her jaw and cradle her face like it’s the most precious treasure in the world. And I’m starting to think she may very well be. “I’m here now. You don’t have to survive anymore… you can live. You’re safe, Blake.”

“It doesn’t feel like it,” she whimpers and rubs a hand over her chest.

Placing my own over hers, I murmur against her hair, “I know. But it is. You’re home now. You’re here with me, and I’d never fucking hurt you. You’resafenow.”

Her face crumples as tears slide down her cheeks while she softly nods. She doesn’t believe the words yet, I just hope she trusts me enough to want to.

I drop my forehead to hers and whisper one last time, “You’re safe.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Blake

island of misfit toys

Mon, Oct. 13 at 9:29 AM

I miss you

Meera

I always miss you

Margo

Miss you so much, baby B. We’ll see you in ten days though!

It’s not soon enough

Meera

Is everything okay?

Biting my lip, I think over my next response. I’ll tell my friends about the run-in I had last night soon—it’s inevitable. But I still haven’t told them about how Adrian and I are closer than coworkers, especially after last night. And I haven’t fully processed the last twenty-four hours myself.

---