Page 119 of Playing A Risk
She steps away from me and scans the area. “Do you know where my stuff is?”
I glance around and see her gym bag hanging off another stool. “It’s right here. Now, let’s get you out of here.”
I grab her bag and shoulder it. She waves goodbye to herfriends, and I lead her out by her hand. As soon as I open the door, the cold air hits us.
I pull her into me. “I don’t suppose you have a jacket in your bag.”
“Nope. I ran to the gym and then…”
She’s still in her workout clothes, so I know just how long she’s been out drinking—ever since she and Melanie fought.
I quickly decide to get a ride service and duck back into the bar with her. I lean against the wall, wishing I could take her home and hold her through her pain.
“Hey, Dori, while we wait, why don’t you turn on your phone and let everyone know where you are?”
She shuffles to me and rests on my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Don’t have to. That guy over there will.”
I scan the bar but don’t notice anyone paying attention to us. “Who are you talking about?”
She doesn’t reply, so I pull back to find her gaze. Her eyes are closed. She looks peaceful.
Warmth and love for her fill my soul. I suck in a breath, rest my head against the wall, and wait for our ride. She might be a royal pain in the ass, but I’ll take her any way, any day, no matter what.
The ride service picks us up and we go back to her place, only to find she’s lost her keys. I want to scream and shake her silly, but rein it in and get another car to take us to my apartment so I can get her into bed.
She’s half asleep and making little sense, mumbling about success and beaches. I practically have to carry her in.
I lead her straight to the guest bedroom. “Let’s get you into bed.”
“I’ve never slept in your bed.” She plops down on the mattress and slides her hands over the comforter. “It’s nice in here.”
“Thanks, but this isn’t my room.” I stand near the entrance and assess her. “Do you want a shirt to sleep in?”
She nods, and I disappear to get her something to wear, a glass of water, and ibuprofen. She’s going to need it.
I try to ignore my wish that she was sleeping in my bed, but it’s useless. That’s where I always want her to sleep.
When I return to the guest room, she’s crying in a ball on the floor. My chest caves in. I place everything down and get on the floor to pull her into my lap and rock her in my arms.
“Come on, Dori. Everything’s going to be better in the morning.”
“No, it’s not. In the morning, Hunter’s still mad, Melanie still hates me, and you leave me alone again because we can’t get it right.” She curls against me and sobs.
I’m not going to argue with her because she’s too far gone to be rational. I want to be upset about her pity party, but seeing her this way only tells me she’s doing worse emotionally than I thought.
Never have I known her to go out alone, especially straight from the gym without showering. She still looks hot as fuck, but she usually wouldn’t let strangers around her if she thought she smelled like sweat.
Holding her tightly, a tingling sensation creeps up my thighs as my legs fall asleep. A flurry of thoughts consume my mind. Trying to get her to choose me is destroying her. I’m the one putting her through turmoil.
She pleaded with me—practically begged me—not to make things difficult for her, and yet that’s precisely what I’ve been doing. My cruel words about our dirty kiss and how Ismeared her lipstick across her face have my stomach rolling over.
God, I can be such a dick.
She’s done crying, and her breathing has evened out. I peek down at her and find her passed out on my chest. It would be near perfect if the moment weren’t laced with such sadness and longing. I cradle her in my arms and place her in bed.
She’s going to have to deal with sleeping in her clothes because I’m not torturing myself by undressing her. I set up her water and ibuprofen on the nightstand.
Hopefully, she’ll wake up sometime in the middle of the night and take them. Otherwise, her head is going to be killing her tomorrow.
