Page 21 of Hold You Close
He cares too. I know he does.
Love,
Sabrina
Tears slidedown my face and I use the back of my hand to clear them away. Clutching the letter to my chest, I know I’ll treasure this always, even if the ending was complete crazy talk.
I close my eyes, letting my emotions settle around me, both thankful I got to read that and wishing I never had to. The doorbell rings, and my head flops to the side. Who the hell could be here now?
The wine hits me when I stand, but I manage to get to the door without incident. When I open it, the door hits the rug, getting stuck, and I stumble backwards. Onto my ass. In front of the biggest ass I know.
“Are you drunk?” Ian asks.
I’m sure getting close to it.
“No, thanks for asking. I was just … I’m fine.”
I’m not telling him I just read the letter. The last thing I need is him asking me questions. If Sabrina wanted him to have one, she’d have written something to him. Plus, I’m not forgiving him anytime soon. He has to earn that.
“Great,” he mumbles as he enters my house. “You’re freaking toasted. Here.” His hand is in front of me, but I don’t need his help.
“God only knows where your hands have been,” I sneer. Instead of doing what any sane person would, I roll to my stomach and get onto my hands and knees. “I’d rather crawl.”
“Nice panties.” Ian smirks.
This is why Sabrina was wrong. He’s a total ass. I look at him from over my shoulder and glare. “I’m going commando.”
“Hard to wear underwear with the stick up your ass, huh?”
When I get to the stairs, I manage to get myself upright without needing his stupid help, and lean against the railing. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
He shakes his head and moves closer. “I need your help.”
I laugh right in his face. “That took less time than I thought.”
Ian runs his hand down his face and mutters under his breath. “Did you think it was easy to say that?”
“Do you think I care?”
“This isn’t about me or you. Ruby is screaming and you’re the only one she’ll talk to. I don’t know what to do. She’s hysterical and it’s been ten minutes of the three of us trying to calm her. I know you hate me, and believe me, I fucking hate you too.” He grits his teeth. “I’m asking you to help my niece—your niece.”
As much as I hate to do anything for him, there’s no way I can say no. Ruby is the sweetest thing in the world. I close my eyes, pull in a shaky breath, and do my best to sober up.
I look at Ian and see the stress in his face. “I’m not doing it for you.”
He shrugs. “I didn’t think you would.”
As long as we’re both clear.
“Let me chug some coffee,” I say.
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t refute me.
After I’ve drunk a cup of strong coffee and eaten some bread, I walk out the door. It’s funny how quickly some things can sober you up. I remember being a little sloshed at a party, enjoying myself after graduation, and the minute Ian showed up with his slut girlfriend from college, my fun night was over.
“You know, you’re a real buzz kill,” I say as we’re climbing down the stairs to the cut through our yards.
“What?”
