Page 30 of Voices

Taking a slow breath, I look up at him as a single tear falls. He wipes it away with his thumb. “Are you okay? Lily said you don’t do well when you’re left alone in a busy store. I’m finished so we can leave if you want.”

Why is he being so nice to me? I don’t understand.

I shake my head in a jerky nod. He takes my five items and puts them in his cart. He holds my hand and pushes the cart with his other as we make our way to the front.

Everything goes by in a haze after that.

I come to when I’m being jostled around in someone’s arms. Not just someone, but Shane’s. The scent of his body wash is all I can smell.

“Is this all he got?” Lily asks softly as I hear keys clanking together.

“That’s all he grabbed before…” Shane’s chest rumbles as he talks. My head is on his shoulder, feet wrapped around his waist while he carries me. The air shifts as we enter what must be my townhouse.

I open my eyes to see Lily setting two bags on the counter in the kitchen and shaking her head as she looks through them.

“We’ll have to…” She turns and stops talking when she sees that I’m awake. “Hey, Jax. How are you feeling? It’s been a whilesince you’ve had a panic attack in a store. Good thing Sticks was there, huh?” She pats Shane’s shoulder.

I’m so damn tired that all I can give her is a weak jerk of my head while Shane sets me on my feet. I sway a little, but with Shane behind me, he holds my hips steady. I lean back so he has to tighten his hold. His fingers flex as he steps in closer, his body heat warming my back.

“Easy there, beautiful.” His breath skates over the back of my neck, making goosebumps break out from the spot.

“Well, this is hot.” Lily is leaning against the island, fanning herself with her hand and a stupid smirk on her face.

“Shut up,” I say softly as I step out of Shane’s grip. “Are you finished?” I’m ready to sleep until class on Monday.

“Yes, I am mister grouch.” She walks over to me and stands on her tip-toes to kiss my forehead. “I’ll be back later if you need me.” She looks at the hoodie I’m wearing and glances at Shane. Looking back at me, she tugs on the sleeves and then grips my forearms. “Please be nice to yourself. Everything is fine,” she whispers.

I nod as she steps back.

She doesn’t get it though. I’m not okay and everything is far from fine.

“Alrighty. I’m off then. You two have fun!” She pumps her eyebrows at me and sends a wink to Shane, then leaves giggling like a crazy person.

“She’s…”

“A lot,” I cut Shane off as I head to my room. I stop at my closed door and look at him over my shoulder. “Aren’t you going to leave too?”

“Do you want me to? I don’t have any plans for the rest of the day.”

Yes.

No.

Fuck, I don’t know.

When I don’t say anything, he walks over to me with a determined look in his eye. “Charlie, do you want me to go or stay?” I can smell his addictive body wash even though he stopped with a foot of space between us. I want him to go but I now don’t want to be alone either. He steps closer and lifts my chin so I’m looking up at those icy blues. “Your hesitance is making me think you want me to stay. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. We can chill on the couch or your bed and watch movies or talk. Hell, I’ll sit in complete silence if that’s what you want to do. I just want to…” He stalls for a second like he’s rethinking what he was about to say. “To make sure you really are okay after what happened.”

With his finger still under my chin, he uses his thumb to gently stroke my cheek. My breath hitches at his soft, almost endearing touch. No one has ever looked at me like he does. Like I’m someone special.

It’s messing with my head.

He can’t actually think of me like that, can he?

I must be desperate to find out because I find myself whispering, “Stay,” without telling my mouthto move.

Chapter Ten

Shane

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