Page 38 of Wasted Memories
“I didn’t go to the store.” She had her arms crossed against her chest, her gaze trained ahead.
“What made you believe it was a good idea to go over there and not tell anyone?” I tried to keep my tone level despite the inferno raging inside me.
“What makes you think I didn’t tell anyone?”
I gave her a disbelieving look as I pulled into the driveway. I knew she didn’t tell Stella. She wouldn’t have let her go. She sure as hell didn’t tell me. “I could have bought you new clothes.”
She stayed seated as I killed the engine. “I don’t want new clothes.”
I faced her from where I was sitting behind the wheel. “Feel like new clothes would have been the better option here.”
Her silky hair was draped over her shoulders, her arms pushing her breasts together. I swallowed, taking a deep breath as I forced my eyes not to stray below her neckline. As if she could read my mind, she dropped her arms, the back of her hands slapping against her thighs as she threw them down.
“I don’t have any fucking options, Wesley. In a matter of twenty four hours, my whole fucking world got turned upside down. I can’t go to the place I’ve called home the past few years. I can’t go to my best friend's house. I’m wearing the same damn clothes I was two days ago. I feel like I’m a walking shell of the person I was. I just wanted my own clothes so something felt normal.” Her eyes glossed over, but she wouldn’t look at me as she spoke. “I don’t want any handouts from you because you feel bad for me. I already feel bad enough that I’m staying in your house. I don’t want you wasting your money on me, too.”
After a few moments of silence, I got out of the truck and walked around to her side, pulling open the door. I wouldn’t let her think I was only helping her because I took pity on her.
She swiped a tear from her cheek. “What are you doing?”
Grabbing her hand, I guided her out of the truck, closing the door after she was out. I led her up the driveway to the front door, unlocked it, and pulled her inside. As soon as the door was closed, I wrapped my arms around her. She froze under my embrace.
I didn’t expect a hug back. Sometimes you can just tell when someone needs a hug, and now was one of those times.
I wasn’t much for showing affection but something in Emerson brought it out of me. I could hold her like this in my arms forever and be completely content.
I felt her slowly lift her arms to wrap them around my waist. The tension in her shoulders eased slowly and she laid her forehead against my chest.
I brought one hand up to stroke her hair and took a deep breath, inhaling that mouthwatering vanilla mango scent I loved.
“Don’t feel bad about staying here,” I said after several minutes. “You can stay as long as you want. You’re not a burden to me, Emerson. If you need clothes, I’ll buy them. If you want to talk to him, I’ll take you. If you need to cry, I’ll wipe your tears. I’m going to be here regardless of how you feel about yourself.”
She took her head off my chest and looked up at me, those damn baby blues making me melt. “I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say.”
I rolled my eyes as a slight grin grew on her face. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I do have one request that will make me feel better.”
“What’s that?”
Part of me felt like I should be scared to know the answer, but regardless of what it was, I’d do it. I was quickly finding that I’d do anything for Emerson. All she had to do was ask.
“Don’t sleep on the floor tonight.” My forehead creased in confusion as I waited for her to elaborate. “Sleep with me.”
Chapter Twenty
Wesley
Ihadtheslightestfeeling this was a not-so-thought-through idea and didn’t want to overthink why she would have asked me to sleep in my bed with her tonight; but here I lay next to Emerson Foley fully clothed in a bed that suddenly felt too small.
I didn’t want to make any assumptions about what she wanted out of tonight so I chose to play it safe and keep my hands to myself. Maybe she just felt bad about me sleeping on the floor and really did want to innocently lay next to me. On the other hand, maybe she wanted more and was waiting for me to make the move.
I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling in the dark. She was on her side facing me with one arm under the pillow. I couldn’t look at her. If I did, I’d see how utterly beautiful I knew she looked right now and not be able to control myself.
“Wesley.”
I grunted in response.
“I know you’re not asleep, I can see your eyes are open.”
