Page 5 of Holland
“It’s not okay! Bella, if Holland hadn’t found me you know where I would have wound up. You know. They would have taken me back there; you get that right. They would have found Mom and Dad and taken me back there. What part of, he fucking saved me, do you not get?” Crimson took off down the hall towards the small bedroom she used. Shame rolled over me, she was right if Holland hadn’t taken her in child services would have taken her back to the same people who sold her.
“I’ll go, tell Crimson I’ll be back for her in the morning.” I started to make my way to the door with my head down.
“Really that’s it, you’re just going to cuss me out and then walk away. I thought you had more gumption than that.” Stopping with my hand on the knob, I turned to look at him. He had this grin that made my panties practically melt right off of me. Why did he have to be so fucking hot? Every other cop I knew, not that I knew many, were fat, balding, middle aged ugly dudes.
“I just figured you’d want me out after I just chewed your ass for apparently nothing.” Deep down I knew I owed him an apology, but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“I’m not going to kick you out simply because you yelled at me, Bella. Hell if I kicked women out of my house every time they yelled at me I’d have fewer women staying at my house all the time.” A sudden flare of jealousy took over me wondering what other fucking women he had staying at his house. None of my business that’s who.
“Look I’m not going to force you to stay, but once Crimson calms down she’ll see you were only pissed for her. She’ll be hurt if you leave without her, she’ll think...she’ll think you left her.” Before I can respond there’s a knock on the door and when I pull it open the pizza delivery guy is there with a stack of boxes.
“Hello, I have a delivery for Crimson Nash.” I heard Holland cuss under his breath before pulling out a couple of twenties for the kid as I took the boxes and made my way over to the kitchen table. Holland grabbed paper plates and napkins out of a cabinet in the kitchen. Somehow it felt like the most natural thing for us to be doing together, having dinner. Shit, this man could become an addiction very easily, good thing I was leaving tomorrow, which brought me back to my plans to thank him later.
Chapter Four
Holland
Nothing like coming home to being yelled at by a woman. Not just any woman either, a fucking hot as hell, fire in her eyes women. She looked like she was ready to flay me alive for my imagined transgressions. When she realized how wrong she was she didn’t even apologize, just tried to leave out the door like it never happened. No way was I letting that shit fly. Then add to that Crimson using my last name to order the pizza like we were married. I was surrounded by women who were trying to kill me one way or another.
“Oh Mrs. Nash, food’s here.” Bella’s eyes got round as saucers, but she didn’t say anything, instead it looked like she was trying to contain laughter. This wasn’t something new that Crimson had pulled, no every chance Crimson got she’d insinuate that we were together as a couple. Some days I wanted to pull my hair out.
“Oh Mr. Nash, don’t be such a prude, it’s not like the pizza guy knows who Crimson is. For all he knew it was Bella. Chill dude.” Crimson flounced into the dining area already in her work uniform. She didn’t have a lot of time before she had to be there, but I wanted to make sure she ate.
“Not the point Crim, we talked about this.” Bella watched our interaction with a smirk on her face.
“Are you finished being a bitch to my friend?” Crimson plopped down on the chair next to Bella giving her the stink eye.
“Crimson give your sister a break, she only wants to protect you. Her intentions are good, but she just doesn’t understand all the facts. You can’t blame her for thinking the way she did. Come on she came all this way to get you back, think about what that means.” Crimson didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and we ate in silence while she chewed over what I said. Since starting therapy, she’s thought things through more before going off half-cocked on people.
“Fine, I’ll forgive her, but she better be nice to you while I’m at work.” Bella gave a little smirk at her sister.
“Don’t worry I won’t kill him while you’re gone. Deal?” Bella wiped her hand off and reached across the table to Crimson.
“Deal!” Crimson pumped Bella’s hand once and grinned.
“Good, now that you’ve gotten that squared away hurry up and eat. You gotta be at work shortly. Is Melanie bringing you home or do you want me to come pick you up?” Melanie was her boss and usually brought her home after the bar closed around two in the morning. I wasn’t sure since she planned on quitting that night if she’d want to ride home with her soon to be ex-boss.
“I’ll play it by ear, Mel might not want to give me a ride after I tell her I can’t work there anymore.” Crimson seemed a little sad at that thought. I knew she liked her job, but she wanted to go with her sister more.
“Sounds good, just call before eleven so I don’t go to bed. You know how hard it is to wake me once I’m out.” She nodded as she gulped down another slice of pizza. I didn’t want her stranded trying to get home, not that this was her home anymore. That thought made me a little sad myself, we’d become our own little family. I wondered how much convincing it would take to get Bella to just stay, but I knew that was a lost cause. She didn’t even like me.
“Do you want to ride with us when I drop her off?” I asked Bella.
“Afraid I might rob you blind again?” She asked with a smile.
“Yup, you caught me I’m afraid you’ll take off with my five year old television and my CD’s of Johnny Cash.” I smirked back at her.
“Shit, you didn’t tell me anything about Johnny Cash CD’s Crim! You were holding out on me.” Crimson shook her head.
“Har, har, har Bell. Come on I want to show you where I’ve been working. It’s a nice place, no strippers or drugs.” It was comments like that one that made me cringe for her sometimes. She didn’t have a lot of good things in her life, and it showed.
“Damn no strippers or drugs what kind of bar is this. Sounds fancy.” Bella followed us out and scooted into the middle of the bench seat of my old truck until she was flush against my side.
“Oh this is nice a truck, I bet it’s seen a lot of action, especially this bench seat.” I knew what she was getting at but I focused on the road instead of the raging hard on I had from images she provoked.
“Oh yeah I love Holl’s truck, but he still won’t let me drive it. Says it’s his baby, but he offered to help me buy a car eventually. Guess I won’t be needing that help after all Holl, might call you for advice though. If that’s alright?” Crimson again sounded disappointed and a little sad. It made me want to tell her she didn’t have to leave, that she could stay if she wanted to.
“Of course you can Crim. You know I’m still here for you if you need something. A friend, help, anything I’m here.” I need her to know that I’m not abandoning her, even though she’s the one leaving.
