“You say that like it’s a good thing,” I tease. “Just you wait until you get your dress caught in the door and you end up flashing the neighbors—”
“Shut up, Cade!” Róisín growls.
I smirk at her, knowing I just declared war on my sisters who’ll throw back twice as much shade as I can deliver, but it’s worth it because Belle laughs and that’s music to my fucking ears right now.
25
CADE
TWO DAYS LATER
“Belle,baby, do you want to come to the gym with me?”
It’s like I haven’t spoken.
She just stares straight ahead. The TV’s on, but I don’t think she’s processing what’s happening.
Plunking my ass down on the couch, I reach for her hand. When she cringes, I immediately suck in a breath and try not to overreact.
“Belle?”
She swallows. “What?”
“Do you want to come to the gym? We can work out together,” I croon.
Her head wobbles from side to side. “No, it’s okay. You go.”
Uneasily, I mutter, “Do you want to sit with Ma?”
“No.”
Though I purse my lips, I get to my feet and retreat to the bedroom. Changing into sweats, a wifebeater, and some sneakers, I draw out the set of free weights I have in the closet and start a lighter workout.
Even though she has to hear me, she doesn’t ask me what I’m doing, doesn’t ask why I haven’t gone to the gym.
I doubt she even notices I’m here.
Ma said she tried to get her to call her friends, but she was quiet all morning, just stared out the window…
Fuck, I want to help but have no idea how.
Stacking more weights on the dumbbells, I try to relieve some of my inner tension through heavy lifting, utterly unaware that I’m falling back into old habits, one that came about when Vinny died…
Right now, though, my mind is focused on her.
I hate that the only way to reach her is through sex, but I hate that vacant look in her eyes more. Hate it with a fucking passion. And she always reaches for me first, like she needs the connection too, and when we’re together, it’s as if she’s back with me.
Like I didn’t wreck her.
If I can ground her, if that’s what she needs from me, then that’s what I’ll do.
Doesn’t stop it from fucking sucking. Doesn’t stop me from adding an extra ten pounds to the dumbbells, either, and from doing another round of a hundred on top of my five sets of fifty reps…
26
CADE
“Belle?”