Page 5 of Twisted Redemption

For a moment, he doesn’t move, doesn’t speak. He just looks down at me, with something on his features that I have no desire to put a name to. When my eyes flit to his lips for a split second, I curse myself inwardly.

He’s engaged, you idiot. Engaged. Almost married. Get it together.

“You’re staying,” he says, tucking a few loose strands of my brown hair behind my ear. “The party is a good distraction, and I know you want to catch up with Sophia more.”

Why the fuck do you care?

“I want out,” I blurt, feeling tears gathering in my eyes again. “I can’t stay here. My mom, she’s killing me. And this house, the memories—I can’t, Blaze. I just can’t.”

Every word that spills out of my mouth feels like a betrayal. Why would I be so vulnerable with someone who looks at me like a bug he’s about to squish?

“You can, and you will.” His hand comes up to cradle the back of my head, lightly pulling the hair at the base of my neck so I’m forced to look up at him. “It’s just a few more hours.”

“I can’t stay,” I mumble.

With a sigh, he looks up at the ceiling. When his gaze returns to mine, it reminds me of the way Alex looks when I’m about to lose an argument with him. “You’re staying. I’ll personally help you move out after the party. But for now, I don’t trust you behind the wheel.”

Ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach, I nod. The thought of Blaze helping me move out may not be appealing, but it’s more appealing than doing it all by myself. The quicker I can get it done, the lower the chances of getting caught by my mother are. She’ll throw a fit if she finds out I’ve decided to leave.

“You promise?” I whisper.

“I’m a man of my word, Brooke. You know that.”

My fingers curl around the fabric of his shirt, and for a moment, I let myself pretend that things are different. That I don’t need to feel guilty for never wanting him to let go.

Despite the lack of warmth rolling off of Blaze, my heart still squeezes. Maybe he does care.

After a beat, Blaze lets go of me and steps back. “Head upstairs and find some makeup remover or whatever—your mascara smudged some more. I’ll meet you back outside in a few minutes.”

I nod, glancing past him to the door. What if there are people out there? What if they see what a mess I am—or worse, what if they see Blaze and I leaving together? What would they think?

Blaze heads for the door, and I stay behind. With his hand on the doorknob, he turns back to give me one last look. “Where are your car keys?”

“I won’t leave.” Maybe I should.

“Car keys, Daisy.”

I wince at the use of his childhood nickname for me. But at the same time, it sends a familiar warmth rushing through me. “Mudroom off the kitchen. On the bench by the coat rack.”

With a curt nod, he disappears into the hallway, and I’m left staring at the door with only one thought: I need to stay the hell away from Blaze Grayson, before I do something I’ll regret for the rest of my life.

THE REST OF THE brunch goes as smoothly as it can. I stay outside, enjoying the sunshine and a light breeze on my skin. Summer always ends too quickly, and I’ve spent enough of it moping inside, thanks to David.

I do my best to keep distance between me and Blaze. Unfortunately, since the guys have returned to the table after Alex’s stupid tennis match, that means I can’t be near Sophia.

So I resort to making small talk with some of my mother’s more-tolerable friends. All the while, I keep kicking myself for agreeing to let Blaze help me move out later. And for telling him where my car keys were. I checked—he took them.

What in the actual fuck was I thinking?

You weren’t, you idiot. You just latched onto the first man who gave you any type of attention.

No, not true. Not true. Blaze is a friend.

Was. Was a friend. Now I don’t know what he is.

“You must be so excited for your last year of college,” one of my mom’s friends is saying, pulling me out of my thoughts. She gives me a polite smile. “Maybe you’ll find yourself a handsome young man?”

“Sure,” I say, digging my nails into the palms of my hands. What an inconsiderate thing to say.

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