Page 117 of A Dirty Business
She started shaking her head. “I can’t tell you. I—I just can’t. I want to stay here. One night and then I’ll figure it out. Yeah. I’ll figure it out then.”
“Wait.” I knelt at her feet, one of my knees on the floor. “Kelly, what’s going on? I’m worried. Please tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t. I really can’t. I, just, want to sleep here for the night. Is that okay?”
“Uh—” I was about to try and push her again, but my phone buzzed then.
Unknown:I’m downstairs. Can I come up?
I stood up, texting back. Kelly was watching me, her sobs quieting a little bit.
Me:Who is this?
Unknown:Trace. New phone. Explain later. Can I come up?
Me:Kelly is here.
“Um.” Two crises were happening at once. “Kelly, can I—I need to run down to the door for this. I’ll be right back—”
“No, it’s totally fine.” She stood up, her chair scraping over the floor. She was hugging herself and looking around. “I need to go to the bathroom anyway and get ready for bed. Can I, uh—my bed isn’t here. I can sleep on the couch. I know where everything is.”
“No. Wait. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, okay?” She’d started down the hallway to her old bathroom. I hadn’t touched hers since she left. Her voice was suddenly better, calmer. “I mean it. I’m going to shower and clean up. I’m a mess.” She motioned for the door. “Whatever or whoever that is, don’t rush back on my account.”
I opened my mouth, but I wasn’t sure what I was going to say.
She was gone, the door closing behind her, and I could hear the fan turn on. The shower was next.
Unknown:You want me to go?
Me:No. I’m coming down.
When I got downstairs, Trace was there, and he nodded toward his SUV.
I stepped out through the door, leading the way, and as I got inside, he came with me.
“Demetri, can you give us some privacy?”
“Will do.” He stepped outside right away, then went over and took point by the door. He lit a cigarette, and Trace’s hand went to the small of my back as he hit the divider so no one could see in from the front of the vehicle either.
I touched his arm, my hand rounding. I was half holding on to him for him and half for me. “Hey.”
“Hey.” His smile was gentle. He moved in, cupping both sides of my face and bending to rest his forehead to mine. A brief second there, then his lips dipped, grazing over mine before coming back, more demanding. His body settled into mine, and I felt his tension leave his body. He continued kissing me, his tongue sweeping inside.
Heat lit inside of me, beginning to pulsate through my veins.
He did that. Always.
He groaned, pulling back, breathing unsteadily. “God. I could hold you forever.”
My hands raised to his arms. I pushed him back a little, leaning my head to get a better look at him. “What is going on? New phone. It’s not safe?”
His eyes got serious, and the softness left him. A wall came down before he pulled all the way back from me. My hands dropped to the seat between us. A chill came through the vehicle. I fought against shivering but couldn’t hold it.
He looked up as if he could see my apartment. “Why is Kelly here?”
“I don’t know, but hey.” I touched the side of his face, turning him back to me. “What’s going on?”
