Page 48

Showered, I’m currently residing in a massive house in the middle of fuck nowhere. Okay so I’ve been here for like two hours, but still I’m going crazy in this room, but I won’t dare step out.

Creek touched me back at the compound, as if he had every right. As if he didn’t shoot me. As if he didn’t throw everything we had down the drain. Was I imagining it?

No. He pulled me into him for sure. Held me tightly as I tried to wiggle free.

There was no mistaking the sadness in his eyes as he looked at me so openly.

I can’t think about it. I won’t. It’ll break me, and I’m just now putting myself back together.

Okay so I’m still thinking about it an hour later as I lay here staring at the ceiling. And I’m pissed.

How dare he?

How dare I? My traitorous body wanted to melt into him and stay. Fuck that. He deserves to suffer the way I have suffered.

He fucking shot me.

A knock sounds at my new bedroom door and I glance at it right as the man himself steps inside.

I pull myself up quickly and point to the door. “No. Absolutely not, get the fuck out.”

“Or what?”

He cocks his head, shutting the door behind him, invading my space, but I won’t let him invade my heart again.

He stands there and stares at me shirtless, in jeans, abs rippling on full display, looking drop dead gorgeous, the motherfucker.

I hate him.

“Or I’ll…”

My words trail off. I’ll what? Hurt him back? Yeah right…

It would be easier if I could…

“Mhm,”

he hums, hands motioning in encouragement for me to continue.

“Creek what the hell are you doing?”

I sigh. “Come to finish the job?”

Suddenly he’s right in front of me, kneeling on the bed, his knee between my spread legs. My heart beats an otherworldly rhythm at his closeness.

“Don’t ever say that again.”

Creeks voice cracks. I’m incapable of doing anything but listen and he slides closer and puppy dog eyes stare back at me. “I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t think. I didn’t feel, I just acted. I was told you betrayed me and my fucked up head convinced me that along with everything else-the secrecy and timing-you were guilty and I just acted baby. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Then he’s hugging me again.

“I don’t know what you expected to gain from that apology, but all you’ve done is offend me further.”

I try to push him away, but he won’t budge. “And don’t call me that. I’m not your baby, I’m not your anything. Whatever it was that we had ended the moment you decided that the love I felt for you couldn’t be trusted. That I didn’t deserve your trust.”

I stop abruptly before I can spill more of my heart to someone so undeserving. Hoping he didn’t catch my slip up.

“Okay.”

He pulls back to look at me. “Friends?”

My head falls back in surprised laughter. “No Creek. Go.”

“We’ll be friends.”

He nods not accepting it. “Look I didn’t think during, but I thought so much after. You mean so much to me and there isn’t a day that has gone by that I hadn’t wished you were next to me. I missed you more than I needed my next breath, and that’s the truth. If I have to be your friend to keep you around then I will. I need something b-... Harlyn, give me something.”

“You don’t deserve it.”

My eyes well.

“I don’t.”

His voice breaks. “Give it to me anyway. A chance? To be your friend.”

“If I say I’ll think about it will you go away?”

“No.”

Falling back, I sigh. “Creek.”

He lays next to me. Close enough for our pinkies to brush and my lungs to ache from holding my breath.

“Tell me you haven’t so much as thought about me and I’ll go.”

I can tell he’s looking at me, but I don’t turn my head. The proximity is already too much to bare.

“I haven’t thought about you.”

I lie easily.

“No?”

“No,”

I whisper.

“Then why are you holding my hand?”

He squeezes my fingers. And fuck I didn’t realize I was, but when I try to pull away he only squeezes tighter.

“You’re lucky B hasn’t found you shirtless in my bed.”

I deflect.

“Why? He gonna kick my ass?”

I look at him then and raise a brow. “He’d break your neck.”

He chuckles and fucking hell, he’s so sexy when he does that and it’s hard to look away.

Eventually my eyes grow heavy. It’s been a long damn day and the exhaustion of it all is catching up to me. My eyes begin to close and when I feel Creeks familiar fingers brush through my hair, I let myself drift.