“Yeah, just give me a sec,” I say. I slip into the bathroom and change out of my hospital gown.
When I come out, Saint is alone and leaning up against the door.
“Sorry, I might have said some shit and she left. I told her I was taking you home and it was non-negotiable.” I can see the sorrow in his eyes. It makes me envious. Saint is here and trying like hell to get Jeanette to take him back. Must be nice to have someone fight to be with you.
Throwing the rest of my stuff into the hospital bag, Saint takes it and we walk quietly to his car. When we’re almost home, my phone goes off with a message from Jeanette.
Jeanette: Sorry I had to get away from him. Home safe. You need anything?
Me: Nope, I’m almost home. Going to take a long bath and go to bed. Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.
Jeanette: Love you too xoxo#p#分页标题#e#
“She get home okay?” Saint asks.
“Yeah. Just give her more time.”
“I’m a patient man, Layla, but my patience is starting to wear thin.” This breaks my heart a little. As much as I’m still angry at Saint for keeping tabs on me in secret for Carter, I hate seeing two people that could be together hurting for one another. I can’t and won’t draw parallels with my situation with Carter. He doesn’t want me, but these two could be together if they truly wanted it. I know Jeanette still wants him but she’s just holding back.
“Don’t give up on her, Saint. She needs someone like you.”
“I know she does but I never said I was giving up. Just that my patience is running thin and she might not like it when I snap. I’m letting her play her games for now because it makes her think she’s in control and I know she needs that.”
I look over at him and really take him in. He’s always dirty-mouthed and crude, but he’s so much more observant than I realized.
Pulling into my driveway, Saint hops out of the car to walk around and open my car door.
“Let me do a house check, it will make me feel better,” he says. I know he’s not asking but I want him to as well. It will make me feel better after everything that’s happened today. I’m still anxious at the possibility, no matter how remote, that someone tried to hurt me. It makes me worry about Carter too.
“He’s fine. I talked to him today,” Saint says, confirming that he really is more observant than I had given him credit for.
“Thank you,” I say, opening the door and letting him in the house. It doesn’t take long for him to go through my little place, and I notice he seems to know his way around. I wait for him at the door and don’t comment, because I don’t want to know why he knows my house so well.
“Looks all clear. I’ll check around the outside before I head out,” he says while walking out.
“Thanks, Saint.”
“I’m glad you’re okay. I know you don’t believe me, but Carter would have lost it if you were hurt.”
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore, Saint. I get that you want to get back with Jeanette, but can we leave any and all mentions of Carter out of it? I’ve moved on.”
“Got it,” he says, not quite believing me. “Lock the door and set the alarm. Later, Layla.” He leaves and shuts the door behind him. I make sure he doesn’t see my eye roll. I’ve lived on my own for four years and I know how to take care myself.
I lock down the house and head for my bathroom. I opt to take a hot shower instead of a bath. All I want is to wash away the hospital smell. I don’t bother to dress and just throw on my pink fluffy robe and grab my Kindle. My tummy rumbles loudly and I realize I haven’t eaten today. I don’t feel like making anything, so I just order Chinese.
I’m getting to a really juicy part in my book when the doorbell rings, making me jump. Figuring it’s my takeout, I grab my wallet, turn off the alarm and open the door.
“That’s how you open a fucking door, Cherry?” Carter growls. I jump back in shock and end up tripping over my own feet, falling flat on my ass.
My heart starts pounding at the sound of his voice. Looking up at him, I see his face is set in a hard glare and his jaw is tightly clenched. He’s just a big as I remember, but I swear his effect on me is magnified. After all, now I know how he kisses, what his hands feel like as they caress my skin, how it feels to be owned by him.
Instantly he’s on me, lifting me off the floor like I weigh nothing. I automatically wrap my arms and legs around him to keep from falling. Kicking the door closed with his foot, he walks to the couch, dropping down on to it so I end up straddling him. I know I should be screaming and yelling at him, but my body just clings to his, and I bury my face in his neck. I felt scared all day and I finally feel safe again. It’s as if he’s taken all my worries away with just his presence.#p#分页标题#e#