Page 63 of Aftermath
His steps closed in behind me, and I swallowed hard. My hand was still clenched around the charm of the necklace, my knees shaking, ready to buckle.
Stone caught me before they did. His arms wrapping tightly around me, and I was tempted to just sink into them. I kept my focus on the tattoos wrapping up one, trying to disappear from the world, and let every bit of darkness consume me once and for all. It’d all been shoved down deep inside, somewhere I never thought I’d have to face it.
Complete denial.
“What’s wrong?” Stone asked, and I could hear the way not knowing drove him mad.
He always had it figured out. The two weeks I’d known him, I’d never once seen him rattled in the face of any problem.
“It’s nothing,” I managed.
My voice was hoarse and my throat stung, forcing the words out.
Stone spun me to face him, to get a look at my face and read over my expressions. There was no use in hiding. They were written all over my face, and there was nothing I could do about it.
“You’re upset,” he observed matter of fact.
Hearing it out loud hurt even more. What was wrong with me?
My brother was having a baby. I should be overjoyed. Every part of me wanted to be back inside, celebrating with them, making a toast to Eloise and obsessing over all the little details. But instead, I was outside, barely able to stand and feeling like my dinner might come right back up.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
My body was shaking, and I tried to cling tighter to the necklace as a source of stability.
Stone’s hand cupped my cheek, still reading my every move and expression. I flinched at his touch, and he pulled away quickly.
Shit.
I had to push him away too. It was the easiest thing. Anytime someone got too close, I pushed them right back out. I couldn’t have anyone knowing the full truth. They’d hate me.
Tears welled in my eyes, and I had to hold them back.
“Len,” Stone said gently.
I watched his eyes trail down to the necklace I clung to and watched in horror as I knew he was putting each of the pieces together.I hadn’t missed the way he glanced jealously at the initial on the chain earlier in the day, but now, I could see him unraveling the mistaken assumption he made.
“You can’t tell them,” I pleaded.
He stared blankly at me.
“Please, Stone,” I begged.
“Support systems are important,” he started.
“I don’t need facts and analysis right now,” I snapped.I hadn’t meant to come out so harshly, but I watched him take each word like a bullet to the chest. I paused, barely able to catch my breath.
“Deep breath,” he reminded me gently.
I tried to inhale deeply and let it out in one slow motion.
“What do you need, Len?”
And in that moment, I was certain he would’ve given me anything I wanted.
“I just need to go home,” I sighed, already shoving every emotion I felt back into the box I kept them locked in.
He nodded and headed for the door to go back inside. I worried for a moment that he completely misunderstood what I was saying. My feet refused to move, and I waited while a few minutes passed.
