Page 66 of Ice
“Did I do something wrong?” Even through the door, I could hear the vulnerability in his voice. My god. I wanted to hold him, and tell him that everything would be okay, and we would be together, but nothing had really changed, had it?
We might have had an amazing night, and it might be something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but living herewasn’t sustainable now. Going home would be my only option, but maybe it wouldn’t have to be forever.
“Lissa, goddammit, please talk to me.”
I wrapped the towel around me, tucking it under one arm, and unlocked the door. As soon as I opened it, he was moving into the room with me.
“Don’t do this, Lissa. I can fucking feel it from in there. You’re backing off, and you’re choosing something other than me. It’s like you’re sucking the fucking oxygen from the room. Don’t do this to me, please.”
I took his hands, and held them.
“Calm down, Ice. I’m not going anywhere for the moment, but we both know that I can’t stay indefinitely. I’ll have to give up my lease, and I have nowhere to go.”
“You’ll move in with me.”
Thirty-One
OnefuckandI’mbegging her to move in with me. I couldn’t be more whipped. I’d laughed at the others when it happened to them, but it all made sense now. Why the hell would I want to go back to the way things were, when I could have her beside me all the fucking time?
“Ice… you know what Reacher said.”
I shrugged. “Fuck him. He was angry, and out of line. Besides, he fucked up your career, and put you in this position, so it’s his responsibility to provide you with a roof over your fucking head now.”
She snorted, releasing my hands and leaning into me, until my arms surrounded her, like they were on some kind of fucking autopilot.
“I don’t think he’ll see it that way. Maybe I don’t have to be gone for long though. Maybe just long enough to get some kind of handle on my finances, or something. Maybe I can get funding to set up my own little office. I don’t know. I do know that my rent is due in two weeks, and right now I don’t even have enoughin the bank to cover it, not if I want to eat, and… oh god… I can’t even drive anywhere anyway. My car is still impounded.”
“And you might have to stay local for your hearing.” I hated reminding her of that, but I’d use any tool in my fucking arsenal to make her stay.
She shuddered. “I’ve made such a mess of things, Ice. Was it really so wrong to want to be with you? Why did everything fall apart like this?”
I know she’s not blaming me, not at all, but I fucking am.
“I’ll sort this. Get dressed.”
I headed for the bedroom, grabbing my phone, and speed-dialling Reacher.
“You didn’t come home last night.” He rarely says hello when he answers a call.
“I stayed with my old lady.” I heard a gasp from her, well, and one from him too. Nice.Stereo.
“Ice…”
“Listen, you fucked up her life, and somehow, for some crazy reason, she’s not kicking me to the fucking curb, but she’s gonna lose her house, so I’m bringing her home with me. She’s gonna live at the clubhouse. You got a problem with that?”
Reacher groaned.
“I told her she was banned.”
“And? What’s your point? Just change your mind.”
He cursed. “And what if she fucks you up again? I’ll be the idiot who let her back into your life.”
I snorted, reaching out to slap Lissa’s ass as she passed me, half-dressed. She shot me a glare, and slapped at my hand when I tried to do it again.
“Yeah, sorry to burst your bubble, Pres, but you didn’t let anyone do anything. She’s mine, and I’m gonna be with her either way. I’d rather that be in my home, but I guess that part is your call.”
He was quiet for a moment.
