Page 28 of Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven
“I got you," he whispers in my ear. “You can let go with the me, Rae.”
Choking out another sob, I wind my arms around his neck, while my legs straddle his lap. The feel of his palm smoothing over my back brings a comfort I’ve longed for.Needed.
“It’s not fair,” I say.
“I know.” He holds me tighter.
I don’t know if I’m talking about Bethany or him. Either way, I feel he understands.
“The guilt will eat you alive. You have to forgive yourself, Raven. I’m certain she’s already forgiven you.”
If only it were that easy.
Chapter twenty
Raven
Thirty minutes later I find myself sitting on Locke’s kitchen island.Again.Except this time, I’m watching him open Chinese takeout that could nourish an entire army.
“Eat.” He shoves a box to me.
“What? My ass not big enough for you, Sullivan? You one of those Kardashian groupies?”
He stills for a moment before he opens another box. “No one ever calls me that.”
I pick up a fork. “Calls you what? Your name?”
“Most people call me Locke.”
I stab a piece of Teriyaki chicken. “I’m not most people.”
“No, you are most definitely not,” he chuckles.
“You avoided the question.” I point my fork at him then twirl it around. “You like big butts.”
He shrugs. “I cannot lie.”
Did he just make a joke?
A laugh bursts from my chest. “He’s got jokes.”
His smile widens as he shakes his head. “Your ass is perfect, Rae. I just want you healthy.”
My heart pinches. That’s the second or third time he’s called me Rae. Like he’s known me for years, not two weeks.
“What about you?” I ask. “Any traumatic life event you would like to share?”
A dark shadow passes his eyes, but he schools it quickly. “None worth mentioning.”
He closes the empty box and opens another.
“And your family, siblings? Do any live close?” I ask.
He uses a fork to stir up the remnants of the takeout container. “Half brother.” He takes a bite, and swallows. “My family and I don’t speak.”
He says all of this without making eye contact.
“Have you always lived here?” I place my half eaten box down.
