Page 39 of Twisted Redemption

“That’s not what I meant. I...” She glances at the bed. “You can sleep with me. If you want.”

I watch her with a perfectly-crafted facade of calm. “You’re okay with that?”

She squirms. “I think it’s the best option.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Finally, she meets my gaze. A mixture of emotions hover in her eyes. Want. Need. Guilt. Hate, maybe. But she nods. “It’s okay.”

I throw my pillow onto the mattress. We’re mature adults. Of course we can sleep in the same bed without any problems.

After staring at the bed for a minute, Brooke closes her eyes and inhales deeply. The wince she makes afterward causes that ball of fury to grow even more in my chest, but I tamp it down.

Not now.

Muttering something about getting changed, Brooke grabs some worn-looking clothes before disappearing back into the bathroom. I strip to nothing but my boxers, because there’s no way I’m sleeping in my jeans, and crawl under the covers.

The second I lay my head on the pillow, her floral scent drifts from the sheets. I take a deep breath and try to imagine an alternate reality in which my smell would already be lingering with hers. In which this wouldn’t be her bed—it’d be ours.

I’ve told myself for years that it doesn’t matter if Brooke ever ends up with me. I’ll take as much or as little of her as I can get, as long as she’s always in my life somehow.

But all I’ve been doing is feeding myself a lie.

The more time I spend around her, the harder that reality keeps slamming into me. Brooke belongs with me. I can’t have her yet, but I’ll be able to soon.

Charlie and I are getting married on Monday. After that, we’ll stay married for as long as she needs, and Brooke can be mine. I just have to get through the next couple days.

A startled noise sounds from the other side of the room. I lift my head to see Brooke staring at my bare chest, clutching her clothes.

I stare back. She’s changed into a tiny pair of shorts and a tank top. My dick stirs, and I adjust the blankets to make sure she doesn’t see.

Brooke has seen me shirtless plenty of times. We grew up swimming in the lake together, for fuck’s sake. But, I suppose, she’s never seen me shirtless in bed.

“Please tell me you’re not completely naked,” she squeaks.

“I’m not completely naked.” Crossing my arms, I level her with a cool glare. “Now turn the light off and get in bed. You need to rest.”

She stays frozen for another second before she joins me, switching off her bedside lamp. “Goodnight, Blaze.”

“Goodnight, Daisy.”

She tenses, but I can’t find it in me to regret what I said. She’s my Daisy, and she always will be.

I just need to make it through the next couple days so I can show her.

CHAPTER TEN

BROOKE

WHEN I WAKE, I’m pressed against a hard, warm body. One of Blaze’s arms is wrapped around me, holding me in place.

My head aches, and my whole back is sore from David slamming me into the wall last night. But I don’t care. None of it matters. Not when Blaze and I are like this.

I snuggle closer, relishing in the coziness of his heat. In all of my life, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt safer than when Blaze’s arms are around me.

“Good morning,” I whisper softly, half-hoping he’s still asleep so we can stay like this.

I shouldn’t be enjoying it. But the way he’s holding me is like a soothing balm on my broken heart. Right now, we’re back to being each other’s safe person. And the thought of turning around and finding him glaring at me has me frozen in place.

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