Page 14 of Contrition

The real reason why I wouldn’t get into his bed was because Estrella had always been afraid of thunderstorms, and I doubted that fear had gone away in the last decade. Not when they used to make her have panic attacks as a child. And I couldn’t bear the thought of her freaking out alone, should she do so.

It was one reason I sent Theo down to retrieve her when I walked past the bar and saw her shots deep already. The forecast had pinged a warning on my phone, and anxiety filled me instantly.

Not for me, though.

But for her.

So, a lumpy couch to hold for my already-aching, forty-two-year-old body it was.

I’d be paying for it the next day.

Fuck, I’d be paying for a lot of my life decisions the next day.

I was unbelievably thankful that we didn’t perform that next night, or else thousands of people would have undoubtedly witnessed me with as much makeup on as the wiener-dog owner wore for my under eye circles alone.

Which…nothing against him. It actually looked really good. That was a talent.

I’d have to pass on it myself, though.

My body tensed as a crack louder than hell sounded throughout the air, followed by a blazing lightning bolt that showed itself through the sheer curtains mere moments later.

And then another crack, even louder, in its wake.

Fuck.

I held my breath and counted.

One…two…three…four…

Crack.

Five…si?—

The door to my suite cracked open and I watched as a pale Estrella walked out into the space, shivering and holding both of her arms tightly, almost as if she were hugging herself. She looked like she had seen a ghost, and my gaze raked over her as she tiptoed out further. She had untucked her t-shirt from her bra, and it nearly went to her thighs.

God, she was beautiful.

I doubted she had noticed me watching her, considering I was mostly covered by a thick, black duvet blanket from Elijah’s room—who had never come back to the suite, along with any of the other guys. Convenient, but I merely shrugged and took advantage of my situation.

Deciding to try not to scare her should she get closer to me, I called out to her. “Over here.”

I sighed as she jumped anyway.

Though, her head was pointed right at my direction, indicating she knew exactly where I was.

Nice going, dumbass.

She stood stock-still as she stared at me. “Zack?”

“Yeah, baby girl,” I replied, wincing at the ease of how the pet name came out. I was supposed to be handling this with care, and yet my tongue had me jumping into the snake pit immediately. “You wanna join me?”

“Are…Do you have clothes on?”

That’s what she was asking?

“Uhm. Yes? Why?”

“I wasn’t going to get near you if you were naked.”

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