Page 11 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Gesture?

I couldn’t think what she might be alluding to.

“Like what?”

She rolled her eyes and let out a long sigh.

“You’ve never called anyone your girlfriend before so why don’t you start there?”

I stared at her.

Girlfriend?

“You want me to ask her out like we’re teenagers?”

“No, I want you to be an adult and tell the girl you’re in love with you want to have a real relationship with her. Is that too hard for you?”

I looked away, rubbing the back of my neck.

“No, I suppose not.”

“And if you do this, you treat her right, Aiden. She needs to go back to the real world. You can’t keep her hidden any more. Let her decide if she wants to help you deal with her family. Don’t push her. Let her in. Let her help you. I hate seeing you like this. So fix it between you and fix it right. I want the Aiden I know is in there deep down back. The one I saw when he brought around the girl he wanted me to meet because she was special to him.”

I knew she was right. The only way I’d get her back was if I proved I was serious. Whether I could really have a relationship with another person remained to be seen. Was I even capable of it? I’d spent so long alone keeping all my walls and my guard up. Then Avery came along and smashed through it all. Made me feel again.

I had to try, didn’t I? Try for her.

“Okay. I get it.”

“Good. Don’t ruin it again if she gives you a second chance.”

“I’ll try not to.”

And I would. For Avery, I was beginning to realise I’d do anything to keep her.

She’s still mine.

I had to remind myself of that fact even though she wasn’t here right now. I’d been a selfish arsehole to her. Keeping her locked up here where her mental state deteriorated. I had a lot of shit to make up to her. No fucking wonder she’d left me. I had to do better. Do right by her.

“Come on, you’re going to try to get some sleep now and I’m going to sit with you. No excuses.”

I didn’t bother trying to get out of it. I did need sleep. Needed to function properly so I could work out how to get Avery back.

Tina followed me into the bedroom, made me get in bed whilst she pulled out her Kindle and sat with me. Fucking ridiculous really, me needing the woman who’d raised me to make sure I went to sleep.

I lay there for the longest time, trying to get thoughts of the girl I loved out of my head, but it proved fruitless. All I wanted was her here so I could wrap myself around her small frame and keep her safe. Take her pain away. I missed her so much.

And soon, I’d have her back again.

l

Tina left late evening after making sure I slept. We’d eaten lunch and dinner together whilst watching films. She reiterated I needed to sort my shit out before she left.

I felt listless, lying on the sofa with my arm slung over my face. Would she call again? I wasn’t about to try ringing her since James might pick up. I wanted to hear her voice if I couldn’t see her. How the fuck had things come to this? Here I was, pining after a girl. A fucking girl. I felt fucking pussy-whipped. She’d stripped away all my fucking walls and barriers and made me fucking helpless. I hadn’t felt helpless since I was a kid.

Avery.

My whole entire world was that damn girl. Everything shifted. If only she knew the torment she brought on. My soul burnt for hers.

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