A thousand emotions swirl through my chest until I finally can't take it anymore, and I burst into angry tears.
“What I want is for you to just leave me alone! My life was perfectly fine! I don't need you! I don't need anyone! Just go away!”
His eyes soften, and instead of the hurt I expected to see there, all I see is sympathy, and it only infuriates me more. He looks at me like he sees right through me. Like he sees what I can't even put into words. Like heunderstands.
“Cindy, baby.” His voice is soft. “I know you're scared, but—”
I don't give him a chance to finish. Instead, I rip myself out of his arms and go running down the street.
“Cindy!” he calls after me, and I know that he could catch me if he wanted to, but he doesn't force it for once.
Instead, he lets me go.
When I finally reach my apartment, I chance a glance back and see that he's been following me the whole time but at a distance. His worried eyes are watching me as I shut myself in my apartment and then slide down the door, giving way to full, gut-wrenching sobs.
Why the fuck did Jesse Hamilton have to happen?
And why am I so fucked up?
* * *
Jesse
I don't know what to do. I think I should give Cindy space, but it's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.
I pace outside her apartment for what seems like forever. Shit. I haven't gotten sleep in over twenty-four hours—not since I first laid eyes on my girl, and I sure as hell can't sleep now knowing that she's in this state and there's nothing I can do about it.
So, I seek out her brother instead. Like a true psycho, I got the address of her brother too. He doesn’t seem freaked out to see me. He lets me into his place and listens sympathetically as I pour out my heart to him like the crazy person I am.
It probably isn't my smartest move saying all this to her brother I just met, but he actually regards me sympathetically.
“I can tell you really care about my sister, man, and that's all I've ever wanted for her, but she's closed herself off because of our dad.” He goes on to tell me about how their father abandoned them when they were children and how it's affected her.
“I know Cindy,” her brother says. “She's scared. If she's fighting you that hard, it’s because she really feels something for you too, and she doesn't know how to process it.” He blows out a deep breath and shakes his head. “She's afraid of being abandoned.”
“I would never leave her,” I tell him adamantly. Hell, I've been stalking her from the moment I set eyes on her. I don’t tell her brother that, though.
“I wish I knew what to tell you on how to get through to her. I'll try to talk to her, but usually all of my advice to her falls on deaf ears.”
The two of us keep talking over a few more drinks. Nate is actually a pretty cool guy, and under normal circumstances, I would enjoy his company.
As we sit there drinking, a plan forms in my mind. It’s insane, but I don't know what else to try. I look at Nate. “Do you think you could do something for me?”
Her brother lifts his eyes up to me, and when I lay out the details of my plan, he smiles, his eyes twinkling. He looks at me with a new look of respect. “You know, I think that just might work. Yeah, you can count on me.”
With her brother's blessing and promise of help, I take a cab home and finally sleep like the dead.
I've got a big game tomorrow, but that's not why it's going to be the biggest day of my life.
Daddy is coming for you, Cindy. He's going to make everything all better.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Cindy
“Why won’tyou tell me where you're taking me?”
“Shush.” My brother hushes me and gives me a firm look. “I told you it’s a surprise.”