“The fuck?” I’m out of the bed. She holds her hands out in front of her.
“We’re not doing this right now. I have a sister who is a mess, and I need to get to her. Whatever this is can wait.”
“This is?” I repeat through gritted teeth. I try to reason with myself. Emily knows the family that Grace and Molly have started to create in her home is being threatened, and she wants to try and fix it. She is so used to people running that I’m sure she thinks Grace and Molly might do the same, but I don’t take Grace for a runner. If anything, she’ll be the one to stitch them back together once they figure out what caused it.
“Chase, I know we’re in the bedroom, but I have to go.” I drop my head. It takes everything inside of me to nod. She takes no time getting dressed. She puts her skirt back on but leaves my shirt on before putting on her shoes. She tries to leave, but I snag her around the wrist and pull her back to me and kiss her with everything I have. She needs to know this is far from over.
I dig my fingers into her hair. She always tastes so damn sweet even when she’s pissed. That’s my girl, though. Sweetness is always close to the surface even when she’s mad. It’s who she is. Where she got that from in her family, I have no idea, but it’s all her.
“Last night,” she breathes when we finally break the kiss.
“We’ll talk about it later.” That’s a whole long conversation we need to have. A confession on my part really.
“Okay,” she agrees before I finally release my hold on her.
I last about ten minutes before I’m getting dressed and heading over to the Score estate. The faster I can clean up Asher's mess, the faster I can get my girl back.
14
Emily
“Emily.” Grace hugs me when I walk in the door. She takes a step back, her eyes roaming up and down me, but she doesn’t comment on my clothing or the fact that my hair is a mess. I’m sure my lips are swollen too. I can feel they are fuller. There is something so erotic about still having lingering touches and marks of Chase on me.
“She’s in her room. Things got a little—”
“I know.” I grab her hand. “It’s bullshit, and I want you to know I don’t believe any of it.” Her face softens.
“Asher is, well…” I trail off, not wanting to say anything bad about my brother but also wanting to give her something.
“Honey, no. I understand. He’s got some demons. I understand that. It’s just when his demons start to haunt my Molly that I get a bit irritated.” Of course, Grace would still see the good in Asher, even after what he accused her of. It doesn’t surprise me at all.
“You’re too nice.” I shake my head. “We don’t deserve you. I think what you meant to say is that you get fucking pissed when it affects Molly.”
“No, I don’t.” The way she stares at me, it’s like she’s staring into my soul. “Just irritated, but if we love each other, we’ll work through all this. Everyone expresses their trauma in different ways, and I don’t want to speak ill of your mother, but she’s left a mark on both of you. That’s her doing, but Asher can’t let that trauma bleed onto the people who are trying to love him. We need to heal it.”
“Damn, Grace, that’s deep for nine a.m.,” I try to tease. She gives me a half smile.
“You want to go talk to her? I think it might help.”
“Yeah, she’s been texting me.”
“As much as I hate what has happened, I love that you two are getting close.” She kisses the top of my head. “Go make our girl feel better.” Warmth blooms in my chest at her words. Our girl. “Emily.” I pause to glance back at her. “You're our girl too.” I give her a warm smile before I head up to Emily’s room, Grace’s words bouncing around inside of my head.
I knock on the door. “I told you to go away!” Molly shouts.
“It’s me,” I say through the door.
“Oh.” I hear some shuffling, and a moment later, the lock pops and she opens the door. Her eyes are red-rimmed, but she gives me the same glance-over her mom did when I walked in the door. “Who did this?” She motions to my appearance.
“I’m here to talk about you.”
“No, you’re here to cheer me up, so spill.”
“You sneaky brat.” I laugh, letting myself into her room. She flips the lock quickly behind her. “I’m shocked he hasn’t worked his way into your room.”
“Think my mom scared him.”
“She does have that way about her. Scary and sweet at the same time. It’s really an art.”