Текст книги "Let Me Go"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

“DINNER WAS GREAT, Dad. Thank you.” My eyes veer over to Rob, waiting by the elevators for me. Once we finished dinner, we came back to the hotel and my dad carted me aside after paying for our room.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. So, he’s the real deal?” His eyes focus on mine, never shifting to Rob.

I shrug my shoulders. “I like him, Dad.”

He’s never been the typical you’re not going to sleep with anyone until you’re thirty, or let me meet your prom date and clean my rifle type of dad. I didn’t even go to my prom. I was supposed to, but my dad came into town the night before to toss a few condoms on my bed. When he didn’t stay, my mom fell into her depression and my prom night was spent at Granger Memorial Hospital.

“Is that all?” His one eye rises at me and I’m not sure where his leave my princess alone act is erupting from.

“Dad.” I shoo him again. It’s uncomfortable talking about my boyfriend.

“Fine.” He rolls his eyes. “I get it; you don’t want to talk to your old man about love.” He opens his arms for me to step into. “Just be careful, sweetie,” he whispers in my ear and I grip him harder, committing his smell to memory again.

“I will. Will I see you tomorrow morning?” I ask, knowing the answer before he speaks.

“No, I leave early. You two sleep in, enjoy some room service.” He steps back holding my upper arms. “You still have those condoms?”

I laugh and he smiles. “It’s covered, Dad,” I confirm just to ease his mind. Sometimes I swear he grabs buy one get one deals of condoms. When I first started college, he actually shipped them to me. I’d run down to the mail center eager that I received a package. When I’d open it up, it was filled with condoms. No need for the Health Department, just come on down to Paige’s room.

“I love you, Paige. Bring the boy over when I get back from tour.” He gives me one more hug and kisses me on my cheek.

I’m not sad and don’t feel abandoned by my dad. It’s been this way between us my whole life. Instead I smile as he stops in front of Rob and shakes his hand. A warm loving sensation comes over me watching him whispering something to Rob, portraying that I’ll protect my daughter stance.

I’m confident my dad loves me; I’ve never doubted that. At the same time I resent him for continuing to live the life he wanted without really sacrificing anything for me. Over the years, I’ve accepted it. He was tricked into having a kid, and he accepted it gracefully. It’s not his fault that the woman who tricked him is beyond fucked up.

My dad disappears through the elevator doors and Rob kicks off the wall, briskly walking to me. Not stopping until I’m in his arms, he nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. “Can I please have you now?”

His voice is pained as though I’ve been stripped naked in front of him, holding him at arm’s length. It only surges electricity through my veins listening to his tortured tone.

I flick the key from my back pocket and hold it up in the air. “Take me upstairs and find out.”

He snatches the card from my hand and presses his palm on the small of my back, gesturing for us to go up to the elevators.

After the elevator ride, we find our room. Rob scans the keycard and opens the door for me to enter first. I’ve stayed here before, the night of The Raptures concert when they got inducted. It’s nice and plush, just like the numerous hotels my dad’s brought me to.

“Holy fuck,” Rob blurts behind me and the door shuts. His eyes ping across the king-size bed wrapped in a fluffy comforter and pillows. The drapes are open, casting the view of Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River. I plop down on one of the sofas and slip off my heels.

“My feet are killing me.” I rest one up on the edge of the couch and gently rub my toes.

“Are the heels worth it?” He sits down next to me on the edge of the seat as though he’s worried he’ll crinkle the fabric or something.

“Relax.”

He sits back, swinging my legs across his lap. “This room is nice, really nice.” His eyes survey every surface. “Don’t get me wrong, my parents do well, but not this well.”

His hands knead into my arch and my head falls back into the pillow. “It was always odd. Coming home after a trip with my dad. Going from this to a two-bedroom apartment with second-hand furniture.”

“It must have been like Cinderella being knocked back down to peasant.” His hands continue to manipulate my feet in the best way.

“Yeah. I guess I just got used to it. My dad used to get on my mom about the living conditions, even bought her a house once.”

“That’s nice.”

“Made the mistake of putting it in her name. It was sold within a month.” That’s when she was using. I think she secretly hoped my dad bought it for all of us, like we would be a family.

“God, Paige. I’m sorry. You had such a crappy childhood.”

I shrug my shoulders. “My time is up with her, but there’s Matty to consider. I’m not sure how much longer I can trust her with him.” I wiggle as his thumbs dig deep into my tissue.

“Neither of his parents seems very fit. At least you had your dad.”

“Yeah, but I can’t take care of Matty right now. I don’t have the money or the stability.” I have three years before my trust fund is released, but I’m not about to reveal that to Rob yet. Of course, he may very well assume I have one. I guess how could he not? But still, the pit of my stomach churns from keeping a secret.

“I’ll help you figure something out. If you really want to take him, I’ll help.” My eyes must bug out because he chuckles.

“He’s a pretty awesome kid,” he remarks, his fingers inching up past my ankles. His hands weave between my legs, parting them to make space for him.

His eyes flick to desire, never leaving mine, while his fingers unbuckle my pants and he tugs the zipper down at crazy slow pace. A lump forms in my throat, holding back the tears from his transparent eyes, revealing another emotion today. There’s want in them, but it’s laced with tenderness, too.

There’s a silent agreement like his bedroom this afternoon. Although part of me wishes he’d come out with it, fear is too great of a deterrent. That those three words that float around us on this plush couch in this elaborate décor room, could crush us.

If this relationship doesn’t reach happily ever after, the crash will be like a plane falling from the sky at fifty thousand feet. So, even though I’d love to hear him tell me those three words, I’m just not ready yet. Then again, my heart is so invested, I’m not sure it matters.

“Baby, you with me?” he asks, hooking his hands on either side of my pants.

Coming back into the moment. “Hard not to be.” He doesn’t need to hear the ramblings of my odd thinking.

“Good, because I want you to watch me.” He longingly stares up at me through his hooded eyes.

My tongue snakes out of my mouth and licks my lips as I lift my hips so he can pull my jeans and panties down my legs.

They fall to the ground and his eyes meet mine to make sure I’m following his directions. His hand slides up my bare leg and props it over the side of the couch.

Every time he peeks up to double-check that I’m still watching, I get wetter. His arms snake up my chest, both hands plucking down the cups of my bra. When his thumbs circle around my nipple, I buck up and he kisses my stomach.

“Almost,” he mumbles.

My eyes are glued to his path down to my center. Not waiting, his tongue swirls around my clit and I force my eyes to stay open. The more tingles are shooting to my nerve endings, the more my eyelids lose the battle.

Placing his hands on my thighs, he widens me up for him and his tongue flicks fast up and down, around my clit. I buck against his face and my hands dig into his spiky black strands.

“Pull it.” He lifts his head for a second to make sure I heard his demand. He groans when I yank harder on his hair.

As his mouth circles around my nub, spurring the nerve cells to frantically race around, his finger thrusts inside of me and I buck up. My fingers drop to the sides of the couch cushions as I clench harder to keep from coming. His mouth working magic, his hot breath tickles the wetness he’s induced. I wiggle under his firm hold on my thighs and his lapping tongue. Unable to get a better angle, his hands reach under my legs, and tugs my ass so his face is buried between my thighs.

Not letting me go, he manipulates me until my orgasm reaches the highest point. I scream his name while little bursts of energy ping over and over again.

Rob slowly brings me down like he always does, his finger inserting again as his thumb rubs my clit increasingly getting slower and slower until he leaves my body.

After my breathing calms, he inches over me and claims my mouth, enabling me to taste myself. He sits back on his heels, bringing me up in his arms with him.

Without any words, he picks me up and carries me over to the bed where he lays me down. I watch him shed his pants and boxers and then climb the bed to reach me. “I have to do that more often, your whimpers and cries made me crazy. I need to get inside of you now.”

I LAY IN the bed, completely exhausted from Rob. Not that I’m complaining. I haven’t had a ton of partners in my life, but Rob has surpassed them all. Of course, it does cross my mind how many girls he’s had practice on.

The bed springs down and up with Rob’s naked body jumping in next to me. “Testing out the springs?” I ask and he laughs, slithering under the covers.

“You never know with these fancy hotels.” He kisses my cheek and crawls in next to me. “They might cheat you on the mattress.”

“I doubt that. I think you may have wanted to just bounce on the bed.” I snuggle into his body. He spoons me and wraps his arm around me.

“Are you tired?” he whispers in my ear and then kisses my neck. Who would guess, Rob is a cuddler.

“A little, but I’m not ready to say goodnight.”

“Me either.” His arms tighten around me. “I hate to go back to the real world.”

“Thank you,” I graciously express, finding his hands and squeezing them.

“For what?” He honestly sounds confused.

“For not asking me a zillion questions about my dad. Acting like you met a dad who bowls and drinks pitchers of beer on Friday nights.”

“Your dad doesn’t bowl?” He laughs and I join in as I imagine my dad sporting a bowling shirt, strolling in with a bowling bag. He would never be part of something so normal. “Man, I hoped he could join our league.”

I know he’s joking, sometimes it’s hard to keep Rob serious, but I want him to know how much it means to me. So I twist around, and hold his face in my hands. “I’d love to babe, but you’ve done the unmanageable. You wore me out.” He smirks, his hands venturing down to squeeze my ass. Keeping up with his kidding side.

“It doesn’t feel that way.” The blood must be pumping because he’s already halfway up. Our eyes lock and his smile drops. “Rob.”

He quiets down, his palms grazing up my ribcage and across my back. “What?” A fear flashes in his eyes. It’s one of only a handful of times I’ve seen Rob so vulnerable.

“I know how excited you were when you saw my dad and his band, but the fact you acted so indifferent. As though it didn’t bother you one way or the other. I’ve never had that before, not even with a friend.”

He locks his arms around my body, scooting me up with his hips so that I’m completely on top of him. “I have to admit, I almost pissed myself when you told me. I mean a little bit of warning would have been nice. But, as shell-shocked as I am that your dad is Greg Thompson, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Now you know all my secrets.”

“And why you love your classic rock music.” I laugh and nod. “What about your singing voice?”

“Lessons.” I shrug my shoulders and roll my eyes.

“Damn good ones. But I’d take you with a squeaky singing voice and a bum father any day.” He winks with a sly smirk.

I bend down and kiss his lips, and he rolls us over. “Damn girl,” he grinds his length against me and I open my legs, ready for him. “Is it bad I don’t feel guilt that your dad paid for a hotel room for us and I’m banging his daughter all night?”

I giggle and shake my head at him. “Well, he’s not a saint.”

I move my mouth up to his shoulder, nipping it and Rob growls. “Enough about your dad.”

I smile against his skin. He completely gets me.

“OH GOD. WHERE’S Matty?” she screams and I bolt up in bed, searching for her.

She’s rummaging on the floor for her clothes, hastily stepping into her pants. “Where is she?” The person must not answer, because the next time her voice increases another octave. “What hospital?”

I jump out of bed, stepping into my pants and throwing my shirt on. I already have my shoes on by the time she throws her phone across the room and sinks to the floor.

Running to her side, I saddle up next to her, swooping her in my arms. Sobs rip from her throat and I rock her back and forth. “What happened?” I softly ask and her arms tighten around me.

“My mom,” she hiccups, trying to catch her breath. “She finally did it.”

“What?” My hand brushes down her unruly curls.

Pulling back from me, her red blood-shot eyes stare right into mine. “She tried to commit suicide.” My heart plummets hearing the words. Linda had appeared unstable, but I typed her as the casual drink and drug user. Maybe had a few late nights with men she didn’t know, but shit, this is more serious.

“I gotta go.” She rushes to the phone and waits. “I need a cab please. I’m coming now. Thank you.” She hangs up the phone.

“You aren’t taking a cab; I’m driving you.”

“You don’t have to. She’s my mom.”

I break the distance between us. “And I’m your boyfriend. We don’t do alone anymore, you got it?”

She draws in a deep breath and releases it. God, I forgot how good it feels to bring that peace to someone else. I’ve missed being a team with someone and the fact it’s Paige just multiplies that elation. “Thank you. I’m sorry my life is so fucked up.”

I place my hands on her shoulders and wait for her to face me. “Never be sorry. I’m here, always.”

She bursts into my arms and I hold her tight, allowing her tears to flow freely.

“Where’s Matty?”

“He’s at my aunt’s, but I’m going to ask Chrissy to pick him up. Shit, my phone.” She pulls away and jogs across the room. “FUCK!” she screams, picking up her phone in two different pieces.

“I got it.” I dig my phone out and dial Chrissy. When she picks up, her voice is groggy and I wonder myself what time it is. “Chris?” I glance at the clock seeing it’s seven in the morning. “Can you pick up Paige’s brother, Matty?”

“What’s wrong?” The panic isn’t hard to miss in her voice.

“Don’t worry, I have it handled. Can you pick him up from Paige’s aunt’s and bring him back to the house?”

“No problem. Dex and I are free all day. We have it covered.” I hear shuffling behind her.

“Thanks.” I hold the phone to my chest.

“Paige, does she know where to go?” Her eyes shed more tears and she bites on her nails.

She only nods.

I bring the phone back up to my ear. “So, you know where to go?”

“Yeah, no worries. I’ve been there before. Her mom?” I guess I’m not the only one who knows about Paige’s mom.

“Yeah,” I answer and she sighs.

“Call me when you can. If she needs me—”

“I will, promise.”

We hang up and Paige darts directly to the door. She throws it open and sails right through. Before the heavy door can slam shut I jog over to catch it. I find her at the elevator, and I lightly grasp her elbow.

“Should we tell your dad?”

Her head flies up to my face.

“No. He’s not going to give a shit.”

Man, where did my sweet Paige go?

“He seemed like he would last night. I’m sure he’d want to help you out.”

She stops and stares right into my eyes. “Rob, my dad is the best father he can be. He pays for my education, he gives me spending money, and he loves me as much as he’s capable. But he’s starting a tour and that comes first in his life.”

I nod, remaining silent. From her stabbing and intense eyes, I’m afraid she’s about to go crazy on me.

“It’s not that my dad doesn’t love me, he does. But I’m not number one in his life. I never have been and never will be. I made peace with that a long time ago.”

The elevator dings and she steps in without another word. We ride down to the lobby and all I can think of is she should be someone’s number one. Is this her demon, the fact that she comes second to everyone in her life?

As bad as my mom was last year, I never doubted her undying love for me. I’m saddened that Paige hasn’t experienced that with anyone.

“Miss Thompson,” The guy from the front desk raises his hand, but Paige breezes by without even a glance.

“I got her, sorry to bother you.”

He nods and then watches Paige the whole time through the circular doors. Lucky for us, the parking garage is right across the street.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back.”

She doesn’t respond and I run across the street, dodging the morning traffic. I enter the parking garage and ride the elevator up to the fifth floor. Speeding down, I pay the outrageous parking fee for overnight and skid to a stop to pick up Paige.

“What hospital?” I ask once she’s secure in her seat.

“Medina County.” I side glance to her. “I know.”

We should have left my car and cabbed it over there. We’re only a few blocks. Why is she downtown? I’m positive Paige is asking the same thing, and I’m not about to grind salt into the wound.

After I park the ‘Stang in its second parking garage in two days, we go down to the help desk. Paige is polite, waiting for what room her mom is in. Her emotion has switched to indifference now. I’ve seen sadness, madness and now it’s swung to I don’t give a shit.

“Thank you.” She stomps steadily to the elevator doors, mumbling to herself. I only catch whore, bitch, shitty, mother, Matty. The rest is rambling.

I know she’s mad, but I’m not sure how to comfort her. Every time I lay my arm around her shoulders, she circles out of my hold. I went to grab her hand and she releases it after only a minute.

I’m right back to Carly, in that hospital, after the news. When she fled the room and I chased after her. Her angry eyes shedding tears. She ran into my arms and I knew we could survive this, but then she pushed me back and ran. That’s when Xavier came out and punched me square on the cheek. At that point, I knew I was in this alone and Carly would never come around. Which makes it ridiculous that I kept trying to get her to come back.

Paige though, why won’t she allow me to be here for her? I can’t deal with another Carly. I need someone who will allow me to be there for them as much as they are for me. We reach the floor and Paige scurries out of the small confines, rushing down the antiseptic-reeking hallway as her face remains pegged to the right on the room numbers.

I follow her a few steps behind since she’s made it clear she doesn’t want to be near me. She stops and spins on her heels, waiting outside the room.

Fuck it, I don’t give a shit if she wants me or not. I know all too well what it’s like to be alone when tragedy strikes and I’ll be damned if she’s going to feel abandoned like I did.

I drag her body into mine and slide us to the edge of the door. “I’m here for you.” Her head nods into my chest and her arms tighten around my stomach.

She picks up her head and I only hold her flusher against me. “Thank you. It’s foreign to me.” I kiss the top of her head and she nuzzles deeper.

Damn, her body fits with mine. The way my lips can kiss her head, her arms don’t strain to wrap around me. The fact that I’m the first person she’s trusting won’t fail her cracks open my heart and allows her to glide right in. For the first time in months, I don’t fight her occupying that space; instead I welcome her into the one part of my body I close everyone out of.

“I love you, Paige. I’ll always be here,” I whisper and a whimper muffles into my shirt.

Urging her head up, she follows and I wait to have all of her attention. “I love you, Paige and whatever happens in that room, with Matty, or your dad, doesn’t change that.” I make the promise to her, that I wish someone would have given to me seven years ago.

Her eyes pour love and adoration, but she remains speechless. I can’t help my heart from constricting until I hear her mutual feelings, but I don’t want empty words. When she tells me, I want her heart pledging it, regardless if it’s right now, an hour from now, or a month. I’ll wait for her to be ready because I know how hard it can be to tell someone. Especially when you’ve been let down and in Paige’s case, she’s never expected anything but to be let down by people.

“Thank you.” Her hand grazes down my back, until she links her fingers with mine. “Please, come in with me.” She begins ushering me toward the door. I realize this is the best promise Paige can give me. To be side by side through her hell right now.

When we break through the door, and shuffle past the curtain, Linda is lying down on her side, facing the window. Paige stops at the edge of the bed and I hold her hand tightly in mine.

“Mom?” her voice is a whisper.

Linda wiggles in her bed, but never looks over to us.

“Go away, Paige.”

Paige inhales a deep breath and I grip her hand tighter.

Don’t shut me out.

“You know I won’t.”

“Just go with your daddy,” Linda sneers and the dislike in her voice isn’t missed by either of us.

“Mom,” Paige sighs. “That’s not true.” She unlinks our hands but then places her hand on my forearm and gives me a small tilt to her head.

I get the hint she’s giving and I nod, exiting the room.

Paige

My heart hurts asking Rob to leave. He’s trying to be there for me, but this is going to be hard enough, let alone have my mom embarrassed by Rob’s presence.

I roam over to the window and sit down in a chair, facing my mother. She rolls over away from me and I huff. “I’m not leaving.” I cross my legs and lean back, waiting for the standoff.

“You don’t care about me. If it wasn’t for Matty, you’d be gone.” She talks directly to the wall.

“True.” I’m not going to sit here and pretend I didn’t wish for a different mother most of my life.

“See. So, go.” Her finger points to the door. “I’ll give you Matty and you can leave me the hell alone.”

“And who would they call the next time this happens? Mom?” I move to sit on the edge of her bed. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love you, but you need help.”

She flips around fast, her eyes darting hatred into mine. “No, I don’t.”

Inhaling another breath to keep myself from losing it. “Yes you do. Think about Matty. What if he would have found you?”

“He wouldn’t have, I left him at Aunt Kate’s.”

Knowing she’ll dodge this until she wants to get help, I decide to ask for more information. “Why were you in the city?” I close my eyes, because I already know why. She probably has a tracker device on him like a dog.

“You know why . . .”

My fists clench and I smooth them out on my pants. “How did you know?”

“Please honey, your dad is creature of habit. Him and the guys always go to the same restaurant and stay in the same hotel the night before a tour kicks off.” She presses her palm to her head and I bring the sheet over her body more.

“What happened?” I’m not even certain why I care. It’s always the same thing.

“I knocked on his door and he refused me.”

How can she not figure out, he doesn’t want her? I mean I’m twenty-two and I get that he led her on when I was younger, but lately he’s had no contact with her.

“He doesn’t care about you, why don’t you see that?”

Tears trickle down her cheeks and I notice her eyes are bloodshot. How horrible it must be to love a man so hard and never have him reciprocate.

“What do you know? You’re only following in my footsteps with that guy you live with. You think he cares about you, he doesn’t. You’re a good fuck like me, Paige. Congratulations you got Momma’s genes.” She sits up in bed and I get up, pacing the floor.

“That’s not true, but this isn’t about me.”

“Admit it Paige, you have the curse. The curse of loving a man who isn’t capable of loving.”

“You know nothing about Rob, so, let’s concentrate on you.” I’m trying to keep this talk steady and on track. There are enough insecurities of my own let alone her enlightening me on more.

“I know that you’ll never be number one. Music, other girls or drinking will take priority to you. Face it Paige, you have daddy issues.” She raises her fingers doing air quotes around daddy issues and I gain all the strength I have not to storm out and never speak to her again.

“Listen,” I place my hands on the edge of her bed. My palms dig into the edge of the footboard. “I’m not going to sit here and argue with you about Rob’s and mine relationship. Either you get help, or I take Matty.”

She shakes her head and then peers out of the window. “Why can’t you love me?” Here comes the depression.

“I do love you, but I can’t do this anymore. My whole life has been taking care of you and it’s time for my life to start. You can snarl what you want about Rob, but you know what he just told me? He said he loves me.” I point my finger into my chest.

My mom blankly stares over to me and turns to look out the window. Rob’s words sink in. He loves me. Oh my God, he really loves me. Never would I have thought he’d be the one to say it first.

“They say anything to get in your pants.” My mom brings me back from the clouds.

“He told me because he’s upset that I’m crying over my mother, but I’m not crying because you tried to commit suicide or the fact you face depression. I’m crying because I’m exhausted that my life once again gets placed on hold. You’re probably right though, Rob won’t stick around, but it won’t be because of another woman. It will be because of all the shit you’ve deposited into my head all these years. That the self-doubt in men will make me too insecure for him to deal with.” I stop, because if I don’t, I’ll get meaner and more hurtful to her.

She breaks down and tears stream from her eyes. A nurse weaves through the curtains and I catch a glimpse of Rob in the hallway, a minute away from stepping in.

“Miss, you’ll have to leave.” The older nurse looks at me without sympathy, but dislike.

Live my life lady and then judge.

“What is she on?” I ask, not giving one shit if she doesn’t like me.

“That’s none of your concern.” She checks my mom’s IV and pats her arm. “Linda, are you okay, dear?”

What the fuck?

“Yes, thank you.” My mom acts sweet as pie. “This is my daughter.” The nurse glances over to me with a twitch of her lip.

“That’s nice.” She struts up to me at the edge of the bed. “I suggest you go cool off, maybe down to the cafeteria.”

“Thanks for the suggestion.” I cross my arms and wait for her to leave.

With a huff, she writes something on the whiteboard and exits.

“I’m not going to argue with you. You need to get help, end of the discussion. I’ll have Matty until it happens. Tell Carl—”

“Carl left town,” she murmurs, which means I see why she ran to my dad now. Another man broke her heart.

“Does Matty know?”

“No. I doubt he even cares.”

“It’s his dad, Mom, he cares.” My heart sinks for Matty.

“Take him.”

“I am and when you get better, come back.” I walk alongside of her bed and sit down. “I’m sorry for getting angry. I just want you to get better so we can be a family. I want to live like a normal twenty-two year old.” Grabbing her hand, she pries it back at first. Physical contact isn’t usually our thing.

“Take him, Paige,” she murmurs.

“I told you, I will until you come back.”

“No, take him.”

“Mom, No!”

Although the scenario has always seemed inevitable in my mind, I don’t want her to give up on herself.

She looks into my eyes for the first time since I entered the room. “Please.”

Tears are forming, my nose is tickling, and my mouth is dry. I might be committed into their psych ward myself because I can’t raise a four year old, and do my classes. When will I get my own life? A life where I’m not responsible for someone else. If she’s asking then there’s something really bad going on.

“I’m going to go down to the cafeteria and I want you to really think this through, okay?” I squeeze her hand and it goes limp in mine.

“Nothing will change. I’m too selfish.”

“We could get you help. I’ll watch him while you’re getting healthy.”

“Oh, Paigey, you’ve always been my pick me up.” She places her hand on my cheek. “Always made me think I was better than I am.”

“You are. Just think about it and then I’ll be right back, okay?” I shift to get up and she grabs my hand one more time.

“I love you, Paige. I’m shitty at showing it, but I do.”

“I know. I love you, too.” I slowly back up, unsure of where this discussion will move if I don’t leave the room. I need to clear my head and think about what she’s asking. “Get some rest and I’ll be right back.”

I leave the room with my arms hanging and my head down, right into Rob’s chest. He wraps me in his warmth and I allow him to comfort me. “I’m sorry, baby. It got heated in there, huh?”

I nod into his chest and then step back letting his hands fall. “She wants me to take Matty.”

His eyes drop and then they meet mine. He’s not upset, or panicked. Those blue eyes are easy as the sky on a clear summer day. “I’ll help you. Chrissy and Dex will. Hell, I’m sure everyone will help us out. It’s temporary, we can do it.”

It’s so cute the way he says we and I believe he really believes that. But one month to forever changes a relationship that just budded. “No.” I shake my head. “For good.”

Shock hits his face and his head rears back. “Oh, man.” He runs his hand through his hair. “What did you say?”

“I told her to think about it.” I stare at his chest, my fingers playing with his shirt to distract me from his unsure eyes. “I’ll have to move, get an apartment. I’m going to have to ask my dad—”I stop myself before trust fund slips out, but the thought of asking my dad to sign it over, is a punch in the face. If he doesn’t, what do I do then?

“Hey.” He places his hands on my cheeks and forces my head up. “Your mind is working overtime. Let’s go and get a coffee and talk this out, okay?”

I nod, unable to truly form words. He leads me down the hallway, following the signs to the cafeteria. “Can you message Chrissy and ask her if she has Matty yet?” The kid just became an orphan and doesn’t even know it yet.