Page 36 of Sail Me to Ruin
“That I think we can agree on.”
He takes my hand gingerly and helps me out of the tub, drains the water, and hands me a large fluffy towel. Wrapping it around myself, he disappears for a moment before reappearing with one of his shirts for me.
Blaise hands me the shirt to hold while he towel dries each part of me, taking stock of any bruises to make sure I’m not hurt in a way I shouldn’t be.
Slipping his shirt over my head, my eyes begin to droop.
He finishes drying and brushing my hair before leading me to the big bed.
Blaise comes over to my side, humming softly as he helps me lie down before walking around to lie with me.
“I’m so scared Blaise, and a part of me is grieving my best friend even if she doesn’t deserve it. I don’t know what I have to go home to anymore. She was my rock.” As my eyes flutter closed, a large yawn comes out. “I don’t know how I see our town and school and not think of her. My whole life has changed, but you make me feel safe even if it’s just for a moment. So, thank you.”
He kisses my forehead gently before sealing his lips over mine.
Breaking the kiss, he starts to get comfortable. “Listen to me, everything will be okay. Even if it doesn’t seem like it now.” He lies down, turning off the light and wrapping me in his embrace. “We’ll handle it together.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
blaise
Seeingthe faith she has in me and what we could be gives me such a good feeling.
She’s perfect.
I don’t want to leave her at all, but I know with them sharing a suite, the detectives will have questions.
This cruise left a trail of missing people and a body but not enough answers.
The voice of doubt in her and what we have tries to nag at the back of my brain but I don’t let it.
She’s mine and I trust her.
Plus, if she did try to turn on me, I could take her down with me, and I know my girl is too smart for that.
Finally, she makes her way out of her room with her luggage in tow.
Taking a deep breath, she squares her shoulders, appearing more confident than before.
“I know you’re worried about me, but Blaise, I can do this. There is nothing here that connects me to her. My tears are real, I lost my best friend and things will never be the same. But how do I go back to our school and her parents and be okay? Nothing is okay. She’s gone.” Her lip quivers, and she blinks back tears.
It breaks my heart to see her this way, but she’s right.
What does she have to go back to now besides heartbreak?
The words are out of my mouth so fast, I don’t have time to process my own thoughts. “Come back with me…”
Before she can overthink things in that beautiful head of hers, I push further. “If you come with me, you can start fresh. Find a new position and we can see where this goes for us. If you don’t want to live together, I’ll help you find an apartment and pay for it. I’ll give it to you in writing. You’d make more money teaching in New York anyways. Don’t go back to the place that will bring you heartache. I know it sounds crazy, but I told you, I really think you’re it for me and I can’t lose you.”
Elodie processes my words and I cross the floor to wrap my arms around her.
“Please say yes. You can talk to the detectives and I will come back and pick you up once I drop Knox off at the airport. We can go back together and give this a shot in the real world. You know I have your back, baby.” I smooth her hair, making sure I say everything she needs to, praying she’ll say yes.
No simply isn’t an option.
She’s mine.
Slowly, she nods her head against my chest and I know I’ve won. Cupping her face with my hands, I kiss her deeply, consuming her the way she does me.
