“How did your phone piss you off that much?”
“Because it didn’t break when I threw it against the wall.”
“I see,” I murmur, fighting my laughter as I hear pain in her voice. “Alright beautiful, just rest easy. I’ll be right here with you.” I want to press the issue of why she destroyed her cell phone, but with how miserable she is in her current state, I decide to save it for a later conversation.
She grunts as I continue combing carefully through her hair with my fingers. Eventually, her body shifts and curls into mine. I hold her close, listening as her breathing evens out.
I want to stay here, next to her, but I have to get this club shit over with. Once I’ve done that, I can concentrate on her. Shelby needs me and I don’t want to let her down. For the first time in my life, I need someone too.
I need her.
Chapter15
Shelby
Icrack my eyes open slowly, relieved when I can tell most of the headache is gone. There’s just a small residual pain behind my eyes. My bedroom is dark, darker than normal and I sit up carefully trying to get my bearings. I smile when I see my windows have quilts hanging over the curtain rods, haphazardly. King had to be the one to do that, and knowing that he cared that much shifts inside of me and takes root. That’s something a man like Mason would never do. Heck, most men would just close the door and let you hurt and sleep it off. I know because I had a great father, and an amazing grandfather and both men were that type. My mother liked to say her father would close the door and be like out of sight and out of mind.
I glance over at my clock, its only eight. I lay back down wishing I could go back to sleep, but I’m wide awake. I hug my pillow to me as a trace of King’s cologne hits me. I breathe it in deeply. It’s masculine reminding me of being in the mountains. It’s not strong or overwhelming—it makes me feel at ease. I suppose that’s a silly way of putting it, but it’s true.
I’d love to see him, but I can tell by the energy around me that King isn’t here. There’s just a vitality to the air when King is nearby. Without him, it’s sad and empty. I’ve got it bad for him. Before, my head was full of chaotic thoughts and confusion. Now, I can’t summon it up at all. All of the sudden, I’m certain. King’s a good man. If he wasn’t he wouldn’t have cared for me during my headache. He would have taken his anger at Thomas out on me. Instead, he handled me with kid gloves and worried about my safety. I need to stop letting my past color everything I do.
After the mental pep talk, I slide my feet carefully to the floor and make my way to the bathroom. I feel gross and sweaty after having the warm towel on my head and blankets wrapped around me. I take a quick shower and wash away the grime. After brushing my teeth and finger combing my hair, I feel almost like a new woman. Even my stomach is growling, reminding me I haven’t had anything to eat since Mason called and upset me.
I make my way to the kitchen to see what I can find to eat. My hopes are dashed as I stare into a practically empty fridge. There’s not much you can make with cheese, ketchup, yogurt, and pickles. I really need to go to the store. I’ve been living on takeout, or just eating at work because I’ve been putting in a lot of overtime. I close the door and glance around my kitchen, finding a banana on the counter. I grab it, leaning against the counter about to peel it when I cry out. The front door opens. My body locks into place as I prepare to deal with Mason.
“You okay, Shelby?” King asks, his hands loaded down with bags. I blink to make him come into focus—the past getting confused with the present. Mason’s image fades away and I pray I never see it again.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, holding a hand to my chest as my heart beats frantically inside.
“Trying to take care of you,” King says, shutting the door behind him, setting the food down and locking it before walking into the kitchen. “You’re supposed to be sleeping. What are you doing up?”
“I woke up feeling better, so I took a shower and now I need to eat because I’m starved,” I tell him, eyeing the bag. He leans down to place a soft kiss on my lips making me smile.
He’s a good man…
“You were going to eat a banana for dinner?” he asks, quirking his eyebrow.
“I haven’t had much time to go to the grocery store,” I explain with a shrug.
He shakes his head, setting the diner bag on the counter. “Good thing I brought supper.”
When he opens the bag to show two containers the smell of the food hits me.
“Oh my god, is that my grandmother’s corned beef and hash?” I ask, excitedly.
“Yeah.” King laughs. “She said that would make you feel better.”
“You havenoidea,” I groan.
“You know, beautiful, a man could get jealous of the way you react to food. I’d rather I was the one to drive you wild.”
I look up at him and don’t even try to hide my blush or the way his words affect me. He has no idea how he makes me feel. Just staring at him now sends shards of hunger through my body—hunger that is all for him.
“Your food didn’t look like something I’d eat. So, I had Billie pack me up the special of the day.”
He opens his container to show off a crispy order of fish and chips.
“You don’t strike me as a fish kind of guy, King.”