Page 65 of The Illicit Play

“No, I don’t.” Her reply is clipped, and there she goes, shaking her head in those jerky movements again. She sniffs, looking away from me as she skims a finger under her eyes. Glancing down at her free hand, she winces, no doubt worried about the black streak across her fingers.

Yes, you look a wreck.

But you’re still so fucking beautiful.

I clamp my lips together. Not about to let that shit out. It won’t help one bit.

She needs support.

And right now, I’m the only one standing here. Because she called me.

I still don’t know why, but I came, and I have to see this through.

“You have to tell someone what the hell is going on with you.” I keep my tone soft but uncompromising. She’s not allowed to just run away from this like it didn’t happen. “If you don’t want to talk to me, then who? Tell me who, and I’ll take you to them right now.”

She looks up at me, her eyes flooding with tears.

The fear in those blue orbs is fucking killing me, and I can’t do anything but act on instinct.

Tugging on her wrist, I pull her against me, cupping the back of her head and cradling her into my chest.

She shudders, this silent sob racking through her before she lets out the softest whimper and curls her arms around my waist.

“It’s gonna be okay,” I whisper, holding her close.

I have no idea what’s up, but I can promise her that.

It will be okay.

I will make it okay.

I don’t know what that means or how it’s gonna look, but I can’t just turn my back on this pain-in-the-ass girl.

Any man with half a brain would be pawning her off to her brother.

That’s exactly what I should be doing right now. Taking her to Football Frat and making her tell Wily the truth. I can get back to class and catch up with Tyrell, who agreed to take notes for me when I had to text him that I couldn’t make it.

He’ll want to know what’s up, too, but I don’t know what the hell I can tell him.

If I’m gonna get through this, I need Blake to tell me what’s going on with her.

She’ll need the support when she tells Wily, right?

Something’s got her freaking out, and whatever she’s hiding, having someone backing her up can’t be a bad thing.

I may not have asked for this, but she’s been shoved into my path, and I’ve got to hang on to her for a while.

Just until she’s okay.

All I can hope is that she doesn’t destroy me in the process, because her crying against me right now is doing my heart in.

CHAPTER 19

BLAKE

I have no idea how long I’ve been crying, but Grady’s chest is a solid, safe wall. His arms around me are the exact cocoon I need to hide away and just let go.

The way he’s cupping the back of my head and holding me close…