Page 42 of Don't Remind Me
We stayed like that for another minute before she sniffed and pulled away. I wasn’t ready to let her go, but I loosened my arms as she stepped back, her head angled toward the floor. I could see the moment she drew her walls back in place.
“Sorry for calling,” she said, her red-rimmed eyes flicking to mine before she headed for the corner of the studio that made up her kitchen. “I didn’t mean to pull you away from the restaurant.”
“It’s fine?—”
“No, I—” She coughed out a laugh. “I don’t know why I didn’t just call the police. It would have made more sense than bothering you. Blame the tequila shots.” She grabbed a tissue from the box on top of her fridge and turned away to blow her nose.
“You didn’t bother me,” I said firmly, taking another step into the apartment. “I’m glad you called me.” Though now I was curious who she’d been doing tequila shots with. I hated that I wanted to know.
Her arms wrapped around the front of her stomach, hands clinging to her sides. “Still, you don’t have to stay. I’ll be fine.” Except she was trembling.
“Let me stay with you tonight. I don’t want you to be alone.”
She shook her head, still facing away from me.
It killed me not seeing what was going on in those eyes, to not know whether she was really okay. “I’ll sleep on the couch. You won’t even know I’m here.”
“You won’t fit on my couch.”
I glanced behind me at the small two-seater that occupied the living space. It was only a little larger than a loveseat and left just enough room to comfortably maneuver between it and the queen-size bed that filled the other half of the space. I could probably fit on it if I wanted, but only if I didn’t mind having a fucked-up back for the next week.
“Then come stay at my place,” I offered.
I didn’t care that it had been a false alarm. She hadn’t known that while it happened, and with the hate mail she’d been getting, it made sense that she’d be scared. All I wanted was for her to feel safe. And to know she was safe for myself.
She sniffed again, tightening her arms around her torso. I wanted to go to her, to tuck her against me and offer her more comfort. I didn’t think she wanted that right now, and after the way I’d acted this week, I didn’t blame her.
But Ihadbeen the one she’d called, and I wasn’t leaving her alone while she was still this shaken.
“Dani,” I pleaded.
She gathered a shuddering breath and let her head fall back on her shoulders as she released it. Like she was giving in, or maybe asking for strength.
She gave a single word in response. “Okay.”
Chapter Seventeen
Dani
The cab rideto Jase’s apartment was short, his building only a few blocks from Ardena. We rode the elevator to the fourth floor in silence, him in his chef clothes, me in my sleep shirt, pajama shorts, and flip-flops. Whereas I was still shivering—and not from his building’s AC—he appeared totally relaxed, leaning against the railing along the elevator wall, eyes casually tracking the numbers as they lit up above the doors.
When we reached the fourth floor, he led me down the hallway to his unit and unlocked the door, holding it open for me as he flicked on a switch. The track lights above his kitchen island brightened, illuminating the rest of his living space with a warm glow.
It was simple and masculine with mostly gray and black furniture, but little touches brought the space to life—potted plants on the windowsill, framed posters on the walls, a throw blanket folded over the back of the couch.
It felt comfortable.
Lived in.
My shoulders lowered another inch as I took in a full breath. I was safe here.
This was why I’d called Jase, I realized. Maybe I should have called the police instead, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. Not when Jase was the one who managed to slip protective blinders around me again and again, blocking out everything that made me want to run. Even when he wanted nothing to do with me.
There was every chance he would go back to avoiding me tomorrow, but tonight, I was just grateful he’d answered my call.
“You can go ahead and sit on the couch,” he said, walking into the kitchen. “I’ll make you some tea.”
I started toward the living room when a flash of gray caught my eye.
