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“Do you want to watch an episode?” I ask, and when she nods, I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding and lean back in my chair.
“I love you, Katherine. I know you want normal tonight, and that’s fine, but I need you to know that. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
I say nothing, not having the words right now, but shift myself as I rest my head on her lap, ignoring how uncomfortable I am because the feeling of her fingers running through my hair is better than any ache or pain I could feel in this position.
I get home just as the sun is coming up and I hand the cab driver some cash before walking up my driveway and head straight for my front door. It’s not until I get my keys out, open the door and walk inside that I notice my car isn’t in my driveway.
What the fuck?
My gaze drifts to the house connected to mine and I know who’s responsible. Even if rationally, I know it was done out of kindness, the idea that Drew did this for me is making me furious. It only takes seconds for me to reach his front door and mere minutes until he unlocks it, thanks to my incessant pounding. I thought I was prepared to see Drew once that door opened, but what I wasn’t prepared to see is the bare chest, abs on full display, and a pair of dark-gray sweatpants that hang way too low on his tapered hips. His blond hair is a mess, his stubble has grown out a bit more, making those lips of his hard to resist. I try but fail not to notice the V that points directly at his cock which I can see on full display beneath the fabric of his pants, and I swallow, hating how the heat travels through my body at the idea of what that piece of equipment could do to my body.
“Did you have to wake me up at the ass crack of dawn? I just got to sleep,” he mutters through a yawn, wiping away the sleep from his eyes.
For a split second, I feel bad that I disturbed him, but then I remember that my fucking car is missing, and the rage comes roaring back.
“Where the hell is my car?” I ask, hating the smirk that appears at the corner of his lips. “You better wipe that smirk off your face before I pound it out of you,” I threaten, getting even angrier when he laughs. “You know what? I’ve had a shit couple of hours, and I don’t need to stand here and have you fucking laugh at me.” I turn to walk away but his strong grip stops me.
“Look, Kate, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh like that, I just didn’t expect that reaction from you.”
When I stand there wide eyed and waiting, he continues.
“I took your car to my buddy Mark’s shop. He said he would get it fixed fast and would only charge you for the parts, not labor.”
Well fuck. How am I supposed to hate him now? I open my mouth to say I’m sorry, but he beats me to it.
“Look, are you pissed that I took your car to get fixed, or is it something else?” From his tone, he knows what’s going on inside my head and I take a few deep breaths, ready to fight him until I can’t fight anymore, but all that comes out is a sob.
“She’s dying,” I choke out, the tears unleashing their wrath on my body as I began to shake uncontrollably. “I-I don’t k-know what I-I’m gonna d-do…” I say through hiccups and it’s as if Drew snaps into focus because without thought, he pulls me into his chest and I try to ignore how good his bare skin feels, how his muscles flex with every shift of his feet, or how safe I feel in his arms.
“Shit,” he whispers against my hair as I tighten my grip, needing to be anchored by something real.
And before I know what’s happening, he’s lifting me off the ground, my legs wrapping themselves around his waist as he carries me inside his house. I quickly take in the dark-colored walls, silver frames, and modern decor, but everything becomes a blur when he sits down on the couch with me resting on his hips.
“Umm…” I mutter as he quickly realizes his mistake and lifts me off him and sets me down on the cushion next to him, his arm still wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me close. “Thanks,” I murmur, not making eye contact as I wipe away the stray tears that continue to fall down my cheeks.
“What happened?” he asks quietly, and I tell him everything, feeling the relief lift off my chest with each and every word.
“I’m not prepared for this. I thought I was, but after tonight I know I’m not,” I admit. Drew nodded, studying me closely.
“You will never be ready,” he says matter-of-factly. “Grief is something I know a lot about. When my mother died, it broke Addi and me, but for me, it meant that I had no one to turn to when things got tough. I didn’t have that rock in my life anymore and I think that was the thing I wasn’t prepared for. For weeks after her funeral, I would pick up the phone to call her, but then I would remember that she’s gone, and the grief would start all over again.”
God, would that happen to me? I knew it would, and the prospect of forgetting her death is something that is settling deep inside my chest as we speak.
“I don’t want this to ruin me. It’s going to ruin me,” I whisper my worst fear, hating that he’s the one that’s going to hear it but needing to get it off my chest nonetheless.
Drew takes a deep breath as his hand rests lightly against my knee. The warmth seeping through the flannel fabric of my pajama pants as I try to hide the way his touch affects me.
“Only you have control over that, Kate. No one else. But I will say that time does its job; it gets easier. It will never fully be gone, that grief will stay with you forever, but it will get easier. You just need to lean on those around you.”
That’s the kicker. I have no one. I burned all those bridges years ago.
“Is that what you did?” I ask, needing to hear it because I need to know it can get better.
He nods. “Eventually. There were a couple of months where I wasn’t okay, and it took my friends to sit me down and give it to me straight. Addison begged me to get help before she lost me too, because that’s where it was heading, so I did. It was the best decision I ever made.”
His fingers are tracing patterns on my thigh, and I take a deep breath to quell the overwhelming need I have to be closer to him at this moment. Just then, I look up, only to see those emerald gems staring down at me. I shiver, wondering why I’m having this visceral reaction to the one guy in this town that should hate me more than anyone else.
“You should probably get home and get some rest. I’m guessing you didn’t get much sleep tonight.” I nod because he’s right. The exhaustion takes over as I stand, and he leads me to the front door.
