“Oh.” That must have made sense last night—not so much now.
“I can show you the apartment complex where I lived for a year. It is affordable and you’ll feel safe there.” I vaguely remembered Shay mentioning her previous apartment last night.
“I need to clean up here and restock the bar. You can show me the complex afterward if you are available then.” I drank more attempting to get myself together. An all-day hangover was not an option.
“Our party arena is already cleaned up. We can buy replacement alcohol while we’re out.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Thanks for cleaning up.”
She shrugged. “It was my idea to drink and eat here. I’m heading to my apartment to take a shower and get dressed. If you feel like eating, I left you snacks in the kitchen. We didn’t eat everything last night. Eat something, you’ll feel better.”
I wasn’t sure I believed that but I nodded. Wait. Heidi. I’d forgotten. I was supposed to bring her pancakes today. Due to my hangover from hell I was already late getting going today. And I was running out of time.
“I have to make pancakes for my sister. I need to do that first.” It took all my strength, but I stood up. I had too much to do and I needed to snap out of it fast.
“There are enough pastries and crap left over in the kitchen. You want to take that to her?”
I dismissed her suggestion. “No. She wants special pancakes. I’ll have to make them.” I shuffled out of the bathroom and made my way to the kitchen to force a sandwich down my throat in hopes it would magically cure me.
Before I reached the kitchen, the front door opened and I froze. I knew before I looked back toward the entrance that it was him. I didn’t expect him back so soon. Our awkwardness with Shay here to witness was the last thing I wanted to face this morning.
When I turned finally, our eyes locked. Seeing him so soon hurt, but it also made me warm when all I had felt was cold without him. Seeing him made it easier to breathe.
“Are you sick?” He studied me closely.
“Nope. Hungover thanks to me.” Shay waltzed down the hallway toward him.
Stone barely glanced at Shay before returning his focus on me. “Where did you go?”
“Chill. Jesus,” Shay drawled. “I didn’t take her out partying. We drank right here in your humble abode. It should be noted she was forced. I had to call in an assist from Chantel to talk her into it. She wouldn’t even sit on your damn furniture to eat until she was too smashed to remember.”
Stone looked relieved instead of angry.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Looks like you have shit you need to say.” Shay stood in front of him and put one hand on her hip. “I think you’re a bastard. Just so you know.”
I paled. I didn’t like her calling him that, but I never imagined she would say it to his face. “And I owe you a bottle of Makers Mark and Goose.” On that last note, she walked out.
After the door closed behind Shay, Stone didn’t move. He was watching me and didn’t say a word.
“I was going to get dressed and move my things out today. I didn’t know you’d be back.”
“We need to talk,” he replied.
Yes, we needed to talk. We needed to talk the other night when he walked away without a word.
My throat and mouth were frozen. I had no response. I could only stand there waiting for him to say more.
“Where did you plan to go?” He sounded stoic.
My new home wasn’t his business. I wanted to shrug and walk away, but I also wanted to stay close to him a little longer. I wanted to absorb every detail of his face, memorize him.
He sighed when I said nothing. I fought the urge to tell him my plans and stood my ground.
I realized Stone was a mystery and that I would never really know him. It didn’t stop me from fearing he’d always be in my head, my heart, and my soul.
Beulah
“DO YOU TRUST ME?”
His question sounded simple and immensely complicated at the same time. He had secrets. There was so much he kept hidden. How could I trust him when wouldn’t share all of himself?
His eyes reflected his sincerity and pain. He was pleading with me.
At that moment, I realized I trusted him fully. Maybe giving him my trust was stupid or na?ve. Even if Wills was his son, I knew there was a reason he allowed his father to raise him. Stone was always responsible when he wasn’t required to be.
“Yes.” My voice was confident and held no doubt. Admitting I trusted him allowed me to let go of my fears. I wasn’t afraid of any of the darkness that lurked inside him. And I knew without a doubt that Stone wasn’t like his father.
Stone’s rigid body relaxed and he sighed. His steely gaze locked on me with intensity. “I should have asked you that before. I needed time to think after seeing the accusation in your eyes . . . it was difficult for me to handle. Having some space helped me see I didn’t give you a chance. I assumed you believed Jasper’s word over mine. That . . . Well, that fucking killed me.”
I had never seen Stone completely vulnerable until that moment. He wasn’t hiding his emotion behind his hard fa?ade. He was letting me see it all. I moved, unable to keep my distance. I walked right into his arms and we stood like that while silent tears ran down my cheeks. His warmth, security, and scent made all the pain from the past two days vanish. Without knowing the entire story, I knew I loved him. I would love him no matter the cost. That was powerful. Nothing had ever owned me that way.
“I don’t know if Wills is my son,” he said quietly as his chin rested on my head and his arms held me against his chest. His heart was beating rapidly.
I held on tighter giving him my reassurance as he talked.
“I was sixteen when he was born. Underage. Gilda was married to my dad. Legally that made the child she was carrying his. Without a paternity test, there was no question. I begged her.” He paused and his shoulders tensed. “I fucking pleaded with her to allow a paternity test. She refused claiming the boy wasn’t mine. We’d used condoms. There had been a condom break once and the timing lined up too closely. I knew if I told my father there was a good chance he’d send her to get a quiet abortion. If he thought for a second that the child wasn’t his, Hilda would likely face a severe beating and then it would be my turn. I wasn’t worried about what he would do to me. I didn’t trust him not to force her to get an abortion. I couldn’t tell him. I had no power or leverage in the situation.”