Page 76 of Aftersome
Then realization had hit me.
She wasn’t here because she was busy crying her heart out over the man she lost all those years ago.
Fuck.
My heart clenched painfully for her.
On a deep exhale, I nodded.
“Thank you,” I whispered but it came out more like a grunt. Then before I could turn around, James had spoken.
“Don’t let her be alone today, Mal. Go to my house, tell Kate that I let you come over, and go be with her.”
My chest contracted with how badly I wanted to go to her. To make her feel better and hold her while she let it all out.
Damning the consequences of what may come out of it, I nodded in his direction and left with the purpose of getting to Doe.
Iknocked profusely on the door, damn near ready to kick the fucker in until it had finally opened. I was greeted by an angry-slash-confused, pregnant Kate who had her arms crossed over her chest.
“Mal? What are you doing here?” she questioned.
Slightly out of breath and anxious as all hell to get inside that house, I peered over her shoulder for any sign of Doe.
“I need to see her,” I demanded.
“See who?”
Jesus Christ.
“You know who, Kate. Your husband told me where to find her.”
I admired her resistance to let me in and the obvious protectiveness she had over Wren. I was glad she had someone else besides me who was looking out for her, but right now, I needed to get to her.
At least to see if she was okay.
“James told you?” She dropped her arms to her sides as her eyebrows pushed together. “That fucker,” she grumbled under her breath.
“Kate, please. I know you don’t like me, but I need to see her,” I begged. “I need to know that she’s okay.”
She eyed me skeptically as if she was unsure of my intentions. I couldn’t blame her, though. I’m sure they’ve had many conversations about me, mostly negative.
“Why should I believe you?” She leaned against the door, blocking the entryway.
Fuck, I thought Wren was stubborn…
“Because,” I rambled, not wanting to admit my true reasoning. Either way, she wouldn’t believe me. “Hayes would want me to check on her.” Her eyes widened in shock at the mention of his name. “He’d want his girl to be okay.”
His girl.
My words must have gotten to her because the scowl she once had was now replaced with a frown. As if she knew I was right, or maybe she decided that Doe really did need me.
I highly doubted it, but once she gave me a curt nod of approval, I exhaled in relief.
“Please don’t make her upset,” she pleaded. “Just for today at least.”
Just for today? My chest caved in. I knew I was an asshole, but hearing it from someone else telling me not to hurt the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about nearly brought me to my knees. It did something to my heart. A ripple of pain that wouldn’t go away.
“I won’t.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat before following her inside.
