Angel Blackwood(105)

The bathroom mirror is still misted up from the shower Talon took moments before. I decided to jump in the shower while Talon made us food. I swipe my hand across the mirror in front of me. I gasp as soon as my reflection becomes clear. I start frantically wiping at the mirror so I can check out my entire upper body and face. Pulling my shirt over my head, I wince as I touch my bruised ribs. Leaning closer to the mirror, I lightly touch my bruised nose and jaw. I let out a deep breath and look down at the lacerations covering my hands. They’re a little swollen today, but it’s nothing compared to what I’ve had to go through in the past; I’ll deal.

I strip and make my way towards the shower. Making sure the water is warm enough, I lean my hands on the wall underneath the shower head, putting my head underneath the spray. I squeeze my eyes shut and move my neck making sure all my hair is wet.

At the sound of a door being opened and closed, I quickly move my face away from the water and gently wipe the water out of my eyes.

I take a deep breath, taking in the scent. Sweet… not musky.

“Tyler?” I call out.

When he doesn’t answer, I pull open the shower door a little and peak my head out. Tyler sits on the counter, holding a bottle of shower gel to his nose. His eyes are closed as he takes in it’s scent.

“Ty?” I say softly.

His eyes open and he pulls the bottle away from his face and snaps the lid closed.

“You were out of shower gel, I bought you some.” He leans over as I reach out, making sure he can’t see my naked body as I take the shower gel from him.

“That’s your favourite, right?” He looks down at the bottle in my hand. I look down and find that it is my favourite one. Berry scented.

“Yeah. Thank-you.” I give him a small smile. His sudden kindness warms my heart and causes butterflies in my tummy. I close the shower door and hold the bottle to my bare chest, waiting for his footsteps as he leaves. When I hear him jump down from the counter, I cant help but whisper, “Don’t go.”

I watch through the steamy glass door as he pauses right outside of the shower door.

“Angel,” he says softly.

“Please stay…” I find my voice as I say a little louder. “…Sit with me while I shower. Please, Ty.”

I let out a deep breath when I hear him moving back to sit on the counter.

“Thank you.” I smile.

He’s quiet for a little while as I wash my body and hair, but then he speaks.

“Why didn’t you tell us about you being a witch?” He says.

I scrub my hands through my hair, biting back the pain from my scalp. I need to clean my hair though, the scent from the other pack still lingers in it and I can’t stand it.

“I was so afraid and unsure of what was happening to me. I should have told you and Talon, I’m sorry I didn’t. I’ve grown used to dealing with shit on my own, I forget I have people around me that are willing to help and listen. I need to learn to trust others more. I just hate depending on other people. When Alex couldn’t or wouldn’t give me an answer for what had and was happening to me, I just thought I should find out for myself.” I twirl the end of my hair around my fist looking down at it as the shower streams down my back. I turn around and turn the water off. It’s quiet in the bathroom now and he isn’t saying a word.

I pull the towel that lays over the shower door and wrap it around my body. I’m scared to get out of the shower and look at him. I don’t know what I’ll find when I look into his eyes.

“I’m sorry I shut you out after what Drake did to me. I needed you and Talon more than anything. I should have told you that, I should have trusted that you two would have kept me safe from him no matter what he threatened me. I’m so sorry, Tyler, ” I say softly, swallowing the lump in my throat and blinking away tears. I hold the towel tighter around me as I wrap my arms around my body.

I turn when I hear the shower door swing open. His warm arms reach in and grab me as he helps me out the shower, before wrapping his arms around me and surrounding me in his warmth.

“No more apologies, Angel. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s me.” His arms tighten around me.

“I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put you through, for everything I’m still going to put you through.” As he says the last bit my body turns rigid. I try pulling away, but he won’t loosen his grip, instead he holds me tighter. I push at his chest and force some distance between us, but his arms are still wrapped around me. I look up and he looks away from me, his jaw tensing as if he’s thinking hard about something or he’s trying to keep himself from saying something.