Page 14 of Twisted Trust

I want to argue. I should argue.

But I’m tired.

Far too tired.

Getting into my apartment is delayed by realizing my keys were in my bag and my bag is God knows where now.

Thankfully, Cameron has my spare key and using that, I’m able to get inside and take Scott back in order to put him straight to bed.

It’s far too late and he’s had such a traumatic day that waking him for a shower is the last thing I want to do.

I make do with a damp washcloth, much to his tired complaints, then tuck him into bed and kiss him goodnight.

Two steps down the short hall from his bedroom is my kitchen-slash-living room.

Cameron is there loading several plastic Tupperware containers of pasta into my fridge when I join him.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” I murmur, glancing over his shoulder. “You really made too much pasta.”

“I did.” He smiles warmly.

“Sometimes I think you do it on purpose. Who makes that much pasta for one person?”

Cameron slides the last container into place and closes the door, then faces me with an easy smile that barely masks the concern in his eyes. “Would I do such a thing?”

“You absolutely would.” The urge for coffee is tempting so I turn on the kettle, but two seconds later, I turn it off. I just want my bed.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Cameron crosses his thick arms over his chest.

Leaning back against the sink, I grip the counter’s edge with one hand and tenderly work my fingers down my bruised throat. “There isn’t much to tell.”

“Bottling it up won’t help.”

“So you’re a therapist now?” I snap.

Both his hands raise in a defensive stance. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

Fuck. I’m such a dick. “Sorry. You… I’m just on edge. I feel like I’ve been scraped raw and everything is twitching.”

“You’ve been through something terrible.”

“People get mugged all the time.”

Cameron scoffs sharply. “There’s mugged and then there’s…” He waves his hand at me. “I’m sorry it happened.”

“It’s my own fault.” My fingers reach my collarbone just as Cameron’s face twists with indignation. “I shouldn’t have fought him. I know the rules of just letting them take what they want. Especially here. But I—” Shaking my head, my eyes close briefly. “He turned toward Scott and I just saw red, and the next thing I know, I’m trying to tackle him.”

“You sure it was a him?”

My eyes open. “Huh?”

“You’ll be talking to the police tomorrow, right? So are you sure it was a him?”

Right. The police. As if they’re even an option with Levi around. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

“And then what happened?”

“I just… I don’t know. I woke up in the hospital and?—”