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Her head lolled to the side. “I guess you’ve been proven right.”

“What?”

She pointed at herself. “Trash. Jumped in a strip club parking lot after I shook my ass for strangers.”

“No. I’m not letting you take that on. I never thought you were trash. I said shit I shouldn’t have based on a past that has nothing to do with you.” I stroked her hair like Zadie had. “Someone hurt you, baby. You don’t get to take the blame. That’s on them. The way I hurt you is on me. It’s not you, Helen. You didn’t deserve any of it.”

She leaned into my hand, her lids at half-mast. “You just think that because your dad and stepmom like me.”

“No. I always knew that. My head got lost for a while, but that was always my problem, never yours.” I leaned over, touching my lips to her forehead. “Quite fucking honestly, my dad liking you is in the minus column.”

“You say that, but I know you wouldn’t stand by me if your dad didn’t approve. I know it, Theo.”

“You’re wrong, baby. It’s up to me to prove that to you.”

She sighed, scooting down slightly. “I think the drugs are kicking in.”

I huffed a quiet laugh. “I think so too.”

“I might sleep.” She grabbed my hand. “Stay, please.”

“Wild horses, baby. They’d have to drag me away, and even then, I’d be back.”

“Mmm...okay, Theo. Don’t make empty promises to the injured, drugged up girl. Not nice.”

“Go to sleep, Helen.”

“’Kay.”

She laid down, and after some pained moans, drifted off. Her brow pinched every few minutes, but her breathing stayed deep and even. I watched her for hours in the dark, counting her breaths, tucking her close when she whimpered. My baby was hurting, and I’d never felt so helpless.

Goddamn,I was angry. I only vaguely knew what had happened, no details, but someone was going to answer for this. I was almost glad Helen hadn’t called the cops. That left me clear to handle this on my own.

I must’ve dozed off at some point in the night, although I didn’t remember it. I woke to Helen slipping out of bed. Or trying to, at least. I snagged the back of her hoodie.

“Come back. Anything you need, I’ll get for you.”

She glanced at me over her shoulder, her hair curtaining most of her face. “Bathroom, Theodore. I probably have to do that myself.”

We both froze at her use of Theodore. I didn’t say a word, though. No way was I spooking her out of calling me that again.

“Want me to carry you?” I offered, sincere as fuck.

She snorted. “I can make it. Thanks, though.” Thankfully, she was walking instead of limping, although her movements seemed to be stilted.

A minute passed before the door to the bathroom slowly creaked open, but Helen didn’t come out. “You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She peaked around the door. “I just need you to know I look a lot worse than I feel. Do you believe me?”

My fingers curled at my knees. “If you say you’re telling me the truth, I believe you.”

“Okay.” She stepped around the door and rushed to the bed, climbing onto my lap and burying her face in my neck. “You’re going to freak out.”

I held her close, keeping my embrace careful. I had no idea how badly her ribs hurt, or the rest of her. “I saw you last night. I already have an idea, baby.”

She hit my shoulder with her chin. “You can’t call me baby.”

“Helen,” I breathed out a low laugh, “you’re in my lap. A place you put yourself. I’m calling you baby because that’s what you are. You’re my baby, my little tiger. I haven’t been taking care of you, but that’s over. Even if you’re not up for forgiving me, I’m still going to be taking care of you.”


Tags: Julia Wolf Romance