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“I …” His voice falters when he stops midsentence. When he doesn’t continue, I already know what he was going to say. He reaches for the coffee table to grab his water and takes a big gulp. My foot loses our connection, and I instantly miss it. The feeling doesn’t last long, though, because when he settles back down, he grabs my foot, putting it back where it was. Touching him.
“So, what’s our plan of action with Lexi tomorrow?” he asks as he plays with his empty water bottle.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” I say, bringing the water bottle to my lips. After I take a drink, I continue. “The killer obviously didn’t know she was here or he would have tried something sooner.”
“She can’t stay here, Addison,” he states matter-of-factly.
“I know that. I’m not suggesting that.”
He gets up off the couch, walks toward the window, and pulls back the curtain. I already know who he’s looking for. Security. I’ve already checked a few times myself. “If he finds out where she is, you’ll be in danger now that we have his DNA. Whoever it is might be more motivated to do whatever it takes to find Lexi and fast.” Aiden shuts the curtains and stands tall, folding his arms across his chest. “Maybe you should go with Lexi, wherever we send her.”
“Aiden …” I stand up with my hands on my hips, “… I was out of work for almost four months. I am not leaving.”
“You know—”
“Stop. Not going to happen,” I say, shaking my head.
After a loud sigh of frustration, he says, “You are so fucking stubborn.”
I immediately look toward my bedroom door. I chuckle to myself that Lexi has me conditioned at the sound of curse words. When I don’t hear anything, I look back to Aiden. “You said a very bad word.”
The corner of Aiden’s mouth twitches. “Do you feel the need to punish me?”
I roll my eyes and launch my water bottle at him. “I’m going to make you sleep outside my front door,” I huff.
He catches the bottle and throws his head back, laughing. “Shh!” I whisper yell, pointing to the bedroom door. He covers his mouth to stifle his laugh.
“We’re getting off track. We need to go back to thinking about what to do with Lexi tomorrow,” I say, dropping back down on the couch.
“We can send her to Max’s. You know no one will be able to get her there.”
I sigh. “You’re right, she’d be safe. But I don’t like the idea of sending a five-year-old little girl to a house full of men. Not that I don’t trust them, I trust them with my life. But none of them have kids and would have no freaking clue what to do with a little girl.” I chuckle, remembering how much Lexi loved Max.
“What’s funny?”
“Lexi loved Max when she met him, like she has a little crush.” Aiden’s smile disappears and I can see his jaw flex before he looks away. “What did I say?”
He blows out a rough breath, shaking his head. “Nothing.”
“No, it’s not nothing, Aiden.”
“I’m feeling like I’ve missed so much, especially when it comes to you. Neither Max nor Damon told me about Lexi. Why the hell not?” I can hear the vulnerability in his voice and see the hurt in his eyes. He puts his hands in his pockets.
I bite my lip, thinking how I am going to say this. “I told them not to tell you,” I say, looking away from his pained eyes.
“Why?”
“Because. How you were acting a few minutes ago … I didn’t want you to worry about me.” I look up at him as he comes to stand right in front of me.
“I haven’t ever stopped worrying about you,” he murmurs, bending over and brushing my hair behind my ear.
“I know,” I whisper. He lets out a soft sigh and mumbles something about the bathroom.
I stare at myself in the mirror. If I thought the last four months were hard, it’s nothing compared to being in the same room as her and not being able to touch her.
When I first saw her walking into the store, it was like my dreams were coming true. Addison, in a wet, white T-shirt with no bra. Holy fucking wet dream. I seriously thought I was hallucinating from being so tired. I grip the sides of the sink and hang my head. And after all she’s been through, how screwed-up am I to go there?
I snag my overnight bag that I grabbed from my apartment before coming here from off the floor. Putting on my sweat pants, I think about Addison touching me with her foot. I can see it in her eyes that she still needs me. That connection isn’t lost.
