Page 20 of Winter Ends
A strange sense of unease washed over when the lock engaged. Was I really doing the right thing by keeping Shawn at arm’s length? Of course, I was. The last time I’d let an asshole like him into my life, he stole from my family. He squandered my trust and trampled all over my feelings. Now I had to deal with sporadic phone calls from the Gray’s Harbor County Jail.
Shawn would remain off-limits.
“Would you talk to me?” His voice was muffled through the door, but I didn’t budge. My breaths came in short bursts, like I’d just run a marathon. Was I having a panic attack over this?
I was across the room and collapsing on the bed. What I needed was space. Space from Shawn and whatever washappening anytime he got too close. It was part of why I hadn’t wanted him to talk to me on the way up here. I didn’t want to get to know him. I didn’t want to like him.
The knocking started again, so I shoved my pillow over my head. It didn’t do shit to muffle the noise. This was going to be a long as fuck, however many days.
Chapter 12
Shawn
My phone sat on the table in the living room. I had no idea what to do now that I was stuck up here with Daniel. He wanted me to leave him alone, but with no idea when we’d get out of here or when anyone could get to us, it would be easier if we could get along. So I went and retrieved the device to get some advice.
Me: So... he didn’t take the news well.
Chase: Of course he didn’t.
Me: He locked himself in the room and I don’t know what to do from here.
The tiny dots that showed Chase was responding appeared and disappeared several times, but no message came. This sucked ass. How did you handle being trapped with someone who wanted nothing to do with you?
Five minutes later, the door to Daniel’s room swung open, and he came marching out.
“You mother-fucking asshole. You’re telling Chase I won’t talk to you? Are we in middle school?”
I wanted to laugh. He’d have steam billowing out his ears if he were any more angry. As it was, his shoulders rose and fell with each labored huff and puff of frustration.
“I don’t understand your issue. You’re the one who locked himself in a room when he didn’t get his way.”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “It has nothing to do with getting my way. I just want you to stay the fuck away from me. Do I need to remind you I didn’t want to even be here and then you lied by omission to get me up here early?”
His arms crossed over his chest, but he didn’t storm back to the room. This was progress. We were getting somewhere.
I rose from my seat, and when I moved closer to him, he didn’t budge. “Lied? I didn’t lie. You never asked. You know what they say about assuming?”
Daniel stood up a little taller. When we were almost chest to chest, his arms dropped to his sides, and he bumped into me. I stumbled backward, eyes shooting open at the sudden contact. What the hell was this?
“I didn’t assume shit.”
Then there were hands. They were back on my chest, pushing me until I fell onto the couch. Oh shit, was this guy about to haul off and hit me over this?
I scrambled, trying to get back up, but Daniel was faster. His thighs landed on either side of mine as he lifted his fist. He swung hard and fast, but not quick enough. I caught his hand just in time, rolling us so that we landed on the floor, with him pinned below me.
“Would you calm the fuck down?”
Daniel snarled, fighting the hold I had on his fist, shoving at me to get me off him. Nope, I wasn’t about to let him win. Especially if this was about to get physical.
“No. Let me go,” he huffed, bucking beneath me. And damn, if he did that again, my body was going to get all sorts of wrong ideas.
“I’ll let you go if you promise not to take a swing at me again.”
He glared. “I can’t make that promise and you know it.”
“Then it’s a no-go, my friend.”
Daniel growled, shoving even harder, this time succeeding in pushing us to the side so that he had the leverage to flip our positions. With him on top of me again, there was no way to stop my dick from thickening. It had been a while since anyone had been in this type of proximity to it, and I liked that Daniel was fighting me. It was exciting and gave me a thrill I wasn’t completely used to.
