Page 79 of Wrapped in Red

“You need to ice that, Ez, or it’s going to be really bad tomorrow.” CC slid me off his lap as he stood up. “I’ll be right back.”

I chewed on my lip as I watched him go into the kitchen and heard the freezer door open. When he returned, he held a bag of frozen corn in his hand.

“No peas,” he teased before he sat back down. “Come on.” He patted his thighs.

“I can do it myself.”

“You know I like it better when you’re closer to me.”

I sighed before I climbed up onto his lap again. “Are you dumping me, Carson?”

“This is going to be cold,” he warned, right before the frozen veggies landed on my skin.

I winced and let out a low whine. “It hurts. Stop, no.” I pushed his hand away before tears filled my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. For getting jealous and fighting with you. For leaving. God, Leo... He was so upset with me when I talked to him earlier. He called me his best friend. I just... How can he think I’m some sort of role model when I let Ty abuse me?”

“Hey.” CC’s big hands gripped my head. “It’s called abuse for a reason. That’s not your fault.”

I shrugged, willing myself to stop the waterworks, but they wouldn’t listen. “I don’t... I dated him. I thought he cared about me. He hit me, and I kept coming back. I thought...I thought he would grow to love me.”

CC wrapped his arms around me and hugged me against his chest.

“I know you did.”

He let me cry against his shoulder. Sobbing so hard I felt like I would make myself sick. I wasn’t upset that it ended with Ty. I was mad at myself for even getting involved with him. For thinking someone like that might like someone like me. He had said I was pretty, that he liked my freckles and the dress I wore on the first date he took me on. That he had always thought I was special. He flattered me with flowers and expensive out-of-town dates. He drove a big fancy car and held my hand like a boyfriend would do.

But Ty was never going to marry me or show me off to his family. He made sure we went out to places people wouldn’t know him. We went to the movies where it was dark. The restaurants he took me to were dim with low lighting. I never met his friends. He claimed he didn’t have a Facebook or any social media, which I knew deep down was a lie. He was ashamed of me, just like all the others. Just like the ones who would come after him.

CC let me cry until I had nothing left inside of me. Until I was so exhausted, I felt like I might collapse.

“Come on.” He easily lifted me as he stood up. “Let’s get you into bed.”

He carried me so gently, so carefully, that it made my heart hurt. That he would take such good care of me after everything. He didn’t bother to turn on the light in my bedroom before he pulled the covers back.

“You have to let go, princess.”

“No.” I shook my head.

CC chuckled softly as he pried my arms from around his neck and placed me on the mattress. “You’re exhausted.”

“Carson, don’t go,” I begged. Why was I so pathetic?

He didn’t say anything, and I had to fight to keep my eyes open. He was right. I was exhausted. I could hear him moving around the room, though, which maybe meant he wasn’t leaving? I was just so damn tired.

“I’m not leaving, princess.” CC’s voice was soft in my ear when he pulled me against his chest, his arms around my waist, spooning me. I felt his lips against my neck before sleep finally took over.