Page 35 of What Happens in Vegas..
I hope he can because I’m not going to leave her alone.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do. Even with a new lock, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel safe in that apartment again. We still have four months on our lease. I’d planned to renew it, but now I don’t know. With my job at the Bellagio gone, we’ll no longer scrape by with qualifying for it.”
“I have a four-bedroom apartment. I’m not using two of the rooms. You two can come live with me. That way you have your own space if you don’t want to share a room with me. You can also save your money for anything that you want to do.”
My stomach flips. That sounds incredible and also too good to be true. I frown. “You don’t think it’s too soon? We only met this week. You might come to hate me by the end of the month.”
He shakes his head. “You have my best friend’s blood flowing through your veins, you act a lot like him. I know I could never hate you, and Mary seems like a nice timid girl. I don’t see her being an issue either. She can stay for as long as she needs. You’re both still young. Save your money, you could go to college if you want.”
Warmth fills my chest. “I act like my dad, really? I don’t remember him, and my mother’s family never had any stories to tell me about him. Other than it was it was his fault my mother got knocked up in the first place. I only have one picture of him because he was the one to make a baby book for me. It was filled out to my second birthday. He died not long after that.”
His hand moves back to mine as he turns into the parking garage for our apartments. “I’m so sorry your mother’s family said shit like that to you. Your father and I grew up in the system together. We were often in the same group homes for teenagers until we aged out. Then we each got into Duke University for law.”
My eyes widen. “Isn’t that like a super expensive, fancy college?”
He parks his car and Lex parks next to him. “It can be, we both got a lot of scholarships for being orphans. We worked our asses off too, and in our Sophomore year got a place together like the one you share with Mary.”
I frown. “But my grandpa said my dad worked in construction for him. He wasn’t a lawyer or anything.”
His gaze goes off to the side. “He dropped out when we were Juniors to marry your mother and she wanted to move to Arizona.”
My gaze goes to my lap as the realization hits me. “Because she was pregnant with me, right? That’s why he did that. I ruined his life. He might still be alive if he hadn’t been driving the truck for my grandfather’s business that day.”
“Carissa, look at me.”
I turn my gaze to him.
He cups my chin. “Your dad loved you more than anything else in this universe. He would’ve done anything for you. You made him so happy. He would’ve rather had you a million times over than ever have the chance to become a lawyer once. So don’t you dare think you ruined his life. He would never ever want you to think that, not even for a millisecond. Now, let’s get you inside.” He leans over and kisses me quickly. Sending a thrill through my body. Every kiss from him makes me feel safe.
We get out of the car and meet Mary and Lex at the elevator. Mary seems to be standing close to him. I don’t blame her. The two men here have a very calming presence and I feel extra safe around them both. Lex looks like he’s seen more of the darker side of the world than Knox. He still carries himself well but he looks like he is always waiting to jump into action. He looks like the kind of man who is always carefully groomed even if he isn’t trying to be.
He has piercing eyes. I’ve never seen eyes as bright as his in real life. They stand at about the same height. I’m glad he was there to help Knox and he didn’t have to save us all on his own. I know three against one would’ve been hard for him.
We get into the elevator and Mary’s phone chimes as I hit the button for the fifth floor.
She checks it and sighs. I look over at her. “What is it? Is Tyler coming to spend the night with you?” I hope so because I’m not leaving her alone. Even if she has to come upstairs with us, then so be it.
She shakes her head. “He says he can’t come. He’s busy.”
I frown? “With what? Both his jobs are closed at this time. Did you tell him what happened, and you’re scared and want comfort?”
She nods. “He said he was sorry, but he couldn’t. He’s been acting weird ever since last night. Ever since...” Her gaze goes between Knox and Lex. “Yeah.”
She doesn’t have to say it. Ever since she slept with him last night. From what I heard he wasn’t even that good and it was over in four minutes.
Big fat tears appear in her eyes and she sobs. I hurry over to her and hold her tight. I don’t blame her. Soon, I’m crying too. This night was more than either of us expected for the day. She hugs me back tight. When the elevator doors open, we step out and wait for the guys to follow us before making our way to the door. It’s still unlocked from before and the chain hangs off the wrong side where one of the men from tonight busted through it.
It had been that sound and Mary’s scream that made me come running, but that’s only coming back to me now that I’m in the place. Mary sits on her bed and kicks off her boots and I move to join her on the edge. Now that I know Tyler isn’t coming, I don’t want to leave her alone.
Lex picks up the fallen over table, and Knox grabs the broom off the wall holder to sweep up the broken glass. I forgot that she’d dropped the glass.
Mary leans into me and whispers, “You can go upstairs with Knox. I know you two want to spend time together. You didn’t get a chance to go on your date. I’ll be okay here by myself. I know the people are in jail right now.”
I shake my head. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not leaving you here alone.”
“Yes, this is Knox Cunningham in the penthouse. I need an emergency extra deadbolt and chain put on apartment 510. I’ll pay for it and give you a two-hundred-dollar tip to have it done within the next two hours.”
I look over at Knox as he talks on the phone. He’s so perfect. I don’t deserve someone like him.
