Page 83 of Caged

“But you don’t really trust them, do you?”

“Professionally, yes, I trust them to have my back.”

“But not personally.” I said. She wasn’t the only one who could hear what wasn’t said.

“No, not on a personal level. I want to, but anytime I think I can, my brain calls up the memories of Gavin and reminds me to be keep my distance. So I’m cautious about what I say, and how close I get.”

We weren’t so different.

“That’s why you seem so uptight.” This time I expected her slap.

But not thelaugh.

“I’m not uptight. I keep a professional distance and I have OCD tendencies. which stem from trying to be perfect to win my father’s affection.”

Her clinical answer rolled off her tongue, sounding like she’d had to defend herself before.To assholes like me.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s okay. Unlike a lot of people, I understand why I’m the way I am. And I’m not as bad as I used to be, so there’s hope for me yet.”

I laughed, and before long she joined in.

The laughter changed from sad to hysterical as we realized why we irritated each other so much.

We were more alike than we’d ever realized.

“We make a hell of a team don’t we? You over-achieve to win your father’s approval. And I act like an idiot to meet my family’s expectations.”

“Yeah. Even when our parents do their best, sometimes they get it wrong and we end up all fucked up because of it.”

She’d been sitting on the cold concrete too long so when she got up to stretch her legs, they barely supported her. Cursing at myself for not putting her back on my lap, I got up and offered her my arm. As I escorted her around the room, I wondered if the cameras had infrared lenses? Given Roman’s preparedness, I had to assume they did.

When Roman saw this, he’d use our friendship, if you could call it that, against us.

Not that I’d stop helping her.

As we walked, I formed a plan to make sure they took me the next time they came down.

“You ready to sit?” I asked when her pace lagged.

“Yes, thanks.”

When we sat, I pulled her onto my lap. As expected, she resisted but I convinced her it was to keep us both warm. In reality, it was because I felt compelled to hold and comfort her. And keep her off the cold concrete floor.

Uncomfortable in the silence, I started singing again.

“You’re not so bad, Jay.” She used the shortened version of my name, bringing us closer still.

“Close your eyes and rest, Cate.” It only seemed right to return the favor.

I didn’t expect her name to feel so perfect on my lips.

Chapter 32

Cate

Itried resisting when Jay pulled me onto his lap, but I had neither the physical or mental energy to argue. Besides, his warm lap was a lot more comfortable than the cold concrete floor.

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