Page 57 of Escaped
Sitting there, I didn’t know which was the more likely outcome, but lifting my cup to my lips, the noise of the door slamming shut behind her indicated the inevitable conclusion.
Chelle wasn’t coming back.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tomorrows
Eli
“How was it, little girl?”
Glancing at Erin’s mournful expression, I didn’t need to ask.I could sense the despondency radiating from her in waves and had already noticed how red her eyes looked when she’d arrived back at her small apartment.
I’d been rattling around her tiny abode for hours, reading her books and flicking through her channels, but all the while, my thoughts had been with Erin.
“It was awful, sir.”Pulling in a breath, she gripped my hand harder.“Even worse than I imagined.”
“She’s mourning for James.”I tugged her closer.“She’s bound to be upset.”
“It wasn’t that, though.”She leaned against my forearm and, fleetingly, I realized how much easier it was to bear her weight against my injured shoulder.Entirely healed, I might not yet have been, but I felt stronger than at any point since arriving at Owen’s place.“Yes, she’s sad about James, but it was more than that.”
“It was about me.”
There was no joy as the revelation left my lips, but guiding her in the direction of her sofa, the origin of the friction between her and Chelle was obvious.
Chelle didn’t like me, or more to the point, she didn’t like that I hadn’t saved James, and therefore, she failed to see her friend’s fascination with me.
“She thinks I’m wrong to be with you.”Erin’s brow furrowed.
“She probably holds me responsible for James and Miles’ deaths.”
It wasn’t as though I hadn’t blamed myself.Even before Hawkins had come barging into the cabin, I’d considered myself culpable for the fate of all four of them.
“I guess.”She sighed.“But that’s not fair.Those guys are dead because they were stupid and didn’t listen to your instructions.”
She looked up at me.“You can’t blame yourself, sir.”
“Is that an order?”Hoping my wry tone would help to defuse some of the tension in her worried expression, I was relieved to see her lips curl, if only for a moment.
“No, sir.”She slid an arm around me.“I’m not telling you what to do.”
“Just as well.”Tugging her toward the couch, I signaled for her to sit down.“Because this could be the perfect place for your next spanking.”
Her mouth twisted as she, presumably, envisaged the fate I alluded to.“I know you’re trying to make me feel better, and thank you, but it wasn’t your fault, sir.I won’t allow Chelle to bend the truth to suit herself.”
“Thank you, little girl.”Taking a seat beside her, I pulled her closer.“And I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I’d hate to see the two of you fall out about me.”
“Me too.”She shrugged, her voice breaking.“I used to think our friendship was rock solid, but I guess things change.I never understood what she saw in James, and I suppose that’s how she feels about me and you.”
Tears streamed down her face as she lifted it to the nearby window.
“Come here.”Reaching for her, I encouraged her to bury her face into my jacket as she sobbed.“It’s okay, little girl.Let it all out.”
There wasn’t much I could do to help her rebuild her friendship with Chelle, but my instinct was to comfort her.Erin had been through so much in such a short period of time, and a depressing amount of that trauma appeared to be thanks to me.
Waiting until her cries had muted and her labored breathing had returned to normal, I watched a pair of small birds hopping from one branch of a tree to another outside her window.Their dance reminded me of the wonderful solace of the wilderness I’d left behind.Life in the forest had always seemed simpler somehow, as though the wildlife there knew how to address any imbalances without conflict.It was a trick most people still needed to master.
“Maybe you just need some time.”Stroking her silky hair, I planted a kiss on the top of her head.“Things might feel brighter in a few weeks.”
