Page 22 of Mending Fate
It became clear rather quickly after that the real reason he’d come. Not to apologize or ask about Soleil. He hadn’t even really come to tell me about Evanne. He’d come because he was drunk and horny, and that had somehow made him think I’d fall into his arms and then into bed.
“Shite. Sorry. I’m such a fuck up.”
His voice broke on the last word, and my anger gave way to sympathy. Our fight hadn’t meant that I’d thought Evanne’s situation wasn’t stressful or problematic. I was worried about her too and hoped that Keli would come to her senses and see that what she was doing wasn’t good for her daughter.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. “Please tell me you didn’t drive here.”
He straightened, his face turned away in what I assumed was embarrassment. “I’m not that much of a fuck up. I took a cab.”
“You’re not a fuck up,” I said as I led him over to the kitchen sink. I pulled a glass out of the cupboard and filled it with water before handing it to him. “Rinse your mouth out. Drink some water. I’m going to clean up the mess.”
“I’m sorry, lass.” He took a small sip. “I shouldn’t even be here.”
“It’s understandable,” I said as I gathered cleaning supplies from the hall closet. “This hasn’t exactly been a great past couple days for you.”
“I cannae figure out how I didn’t see this coming. Keli and I hadn’t dated a long time, but we have a child together. I should have seen that something was wrong.”
“Do you think she planned it?” I asked as I sprayed cleaner onto the rug. Fortunately, Mai and I had bought this particular rug to keep in front of the door to keep us from tracking in mud and water, so it was made for easy cleaning.
“Doesna seem like it. But now she’s on the move. Canceled her phone number.”
That was alarming. “Have you gone to the police?”
“Aye. Right lot of good that did me. Why I drank so much.”
“Have you had anything to eat today?” Based on the mess I was cleaning up, I felt confident that I knew the answer to my question, but I asked it anyway.
“I dinnae ken. Not hungry.”
“Have you slept at all?”
“A bit here and there. I cannae get my brain to turn off.”
“Is that another reason why you were drinking?”
“Aye.” His eyes swept over my body. “And why I came here.”
I bristled. “Right, because you wanted someone to fuck.” I carried my things back into the kitchen.
“Because I missed you, lass.” He didn’t look at me as he said it, but I could hear the sincerity in every word. “You’re the only person I could think of who could take my mind off things.”
It was a slightly sweeter sentiment than what he’d declared before, but this wasn’t the time or place to follow that particular path of conversation. “Finish your water.”
After he was done, I took him to the bathroom. His eyelids were already beginning to droop as I helped him take off his shirt and pants, and I wondered how much of this he’d remember in the morning. I cleaned him up as best I could short of a shower – if he fell asleep or passed out in there, I’d never get him out on my own – and gave him an extra toothbrush. He managed to brush his own teeth, and then I led him to my bedroom.
“I’ll be right across the hall,” I said as I sat him down on the bed. “Mai’s staying with her boyfriend tonight, so I’m going to take her room.”
He gave no sign that he’d heard me, but after he was under the covers, he reached out and grabbed my wrist. “Please, stay. I dinnae want to be alone.”
I was tempted to be firm and tell him that wasn’t happening, but the vulnerability in those beautiful blue eyes of his was too much to dismiss. “All right. I’ll stay.”
At least until he fell asleep. Once that happened, I’d make my escape. Waking up in bed next to him would send all sorts of wrong signals. Without bothering to change out of my leggings and t-shirt, I climbed into bed next to him and let him wrap his arm around me.
“If you throw up on me, you’ll regret it.” I used my best teacher voice.
“Won’t. I promise.” He pulled me closer, and I felt him relax against me.
This was going to be a very long night.