Halfway back to the house, I turned to him, studying his profile. Through his scruff, his jaw flexed like a heartbeat. He was going to ruin his teeth, grinding them that way.
“Are you mad I showed up?” I asked. “I mean, I told you to leave me alone, then—”
“Absolutely not,” he grumbled. “I’m going to be pissed if you continue on that line of thinking.”
“Okay.” I stacked my hands together to hide the residual trembles. “Are you going to get in trouble for leaving work without telling anyone?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. Don’t care.”
“I’m not going to thank you.”
“Good. I’d be pissed if you did. We covered that.”
We went back to silence until Lachlan pulled up in front of my house, putting the truck in park. He stretched his arm across the back of my seat, lowering his eyes to mine.
“Is that guy going to be a problem?” he asked lowly.
“No. Honestly, it’s my baggage that’s the problem. He’ll probably show up to my class another time for this assignment we’re doing, but I think I’ll be better prepared for that. This week has been a lot. Having to exchange niceties with Oliver just…tipped me over the edge.”
He brought his hand down to my shoulder, encasing it in warmth. “Whatever is going on between you and me, I’m here, no questions asked. If he makes you uncomfortable, text or call me, and I’ll be there. You were right to come to me today. Don’t question that. All right?”
I blinked hard and bit down on the inside of my cheek while I nodded.Fucking fuck, this guy could not be sweet to me right now. Not when I was so incredibly vulnerable. I could only handle this side of him when I had my brass balls on.
“All right.”
With more confidence than I had any right to have, considering my legs hadn’t been working ten minutes ago, I scrambled out of the truck and away from all that was Lock. Fortunately, I didn’t land on my face and managed to get inside my house in one piece.
Helen and Zadie looked up at me when I slammed the door shut and fell back against it. They were lounging on the sectional together. Zadie was reading. Helen was playing with her phone.
“Bad day?” Helen asked.
“The worst week. I need to commemorate the end of it.” I dropped my backpack and trudged to the couch where I flung myself onto the cushions.
“We were just talking,” Zadie started.
“Mmmhmm. We’re all going to the beach tomorrow,” Helen declared.
“All?” I asked.
“Us.” Helen darted her finger between the three of us, then pointed to the side. “And the boys. All of us. Food, music, ocean, chill. Don’t pretend like you don’t want to go, Ms. Malibu.”
All out of fight—and notreallywanting to fight anyway—I agreed to the plan. The beach, my girls, food? Yes, please. Perfect ending to a fantastically shitty week.