What’s more, it makes us disappointed in ourselves.”
“Yeah,” she agreed as his hand slipped to her back, rubbing that now in slow soothing circles. “I’m sorry for making a mess of your shirt.”
The silver t-shirt was covered with huge wet stains from her tears.
“It’s just a shirt,” he said lightly. “It comes off. It washes. Absolutely nothing at all to worry about.”
“I guess.”
“Do you want to talk about it at all?” Pietro asked, a gentle prod to see if there was more that she wanted to say, more emotions that needed to be addressed.
In translation, he was telling her that he was here for her and she could talk to him, if it would help.
“I don’t know,” she said, curling up deeper into his arms, basking in the protective feeling that filled her as he gave her a tight squeeze.
With Pietro around, there was little she had to fear. She was safe with him. From any sort of harm or judgment. It was a comforting feeling that spurred warmth and tiredness from within.
“Thank you,” she said quietly after a few minutes of silence had passed.
“For what?” he asked, sounding genuinely confused.
“Everything,” she said, meaning his support. “But mainly for opening your place up to me on such short notice like this. I didn’t even have to ask, and you offered. It’s…it was very nice of you. You didn’t have to, and, well, I appreciate it. Not many folks are willing to help me out right now.”
Pietro snorted softly, the air from his nose tickling her hair slightly.
“It’s nothing, honestly. Besides, truthfully, I feel a little responsible right now. The danger you’re in, preventing you from just going to a hotel or wherever, it’s kind of my fault. This helps me feel less guilty and also ensures that you’re safe, staying somewhere I can protect you.”
Claire swallowed, suddenly reminded about the dangers. In her dismay over the breech with her parents, she’d completely forgotten all about the vampires.
“That was really stupid of me, wasn’t it?” she said, thinking back over her actions in a new light. “Leaving the house like that? Oh man. I’m so dumb!”
“Nonsense,” Pietro rumbled vehemently, the bass of his voice vibrating through her upper body pleasantly as she lay on him. “You were caught up in some intense emotions. Plus, you aren’t used to dealing with supernatural threats.”
“They destroyed your truck an hour earlier,” she said. “I should have remembered. That was stupid. I won’t do that again, I promise.”
“I’m just glad you called me,” Pietro said, conceding the point but refusing to address it anymore. “I’m glad you didn’t spend very long alone.”
“Alone,” she repeated quietly. “That’s exactly how I feel. Alone.”
“Odd,” Pietro said. “Because you aren’t. Alone, I mean. In any sense of the word.”
Claire frowned. He was right, of course. She wasn’t alone. Pietro was here for her. Had been there for her ever since they’d run into one another at the bar the night before. From defending her from Pete, to paying her freaking bail, to fighting off creatures from another dimension, and now being there with a place for her to stay when her parents didn’t want her around.
There wasn’t much more she could ask for from him. He’d been nothing but a help. A good guy.
She laughed wryly to herself.
“Why couldn’t you be the type I’m interested in?” she asked, the words slipping out before she could truly think them over. “Oh, Pietro, I didn’t…I mean…”
You really are a jerk, girl. After everything he’s done for you, even now cuddling you and holding you tight, here you are telling him he’s not what you want.
To his credit though, Pietro didn’t seem offended. He just snorted again and smiled at her, as if he saw right through her question.
“Tell me something,” he said, responding with a question of his own. “Have you ever tried being interested in my type before?”
“Before?” she asked. “What do you mean ‘before’? The way you say it, you make it sound like I am now.”
Pietro frowned at her. “Claire. We’ve already kissed once and almost kissed a second time. You came to me for help. You are currently in my lap, cuddling with me.”
“Well…”
He shook his head. “Now, I’m not saying you’re in love with me or anything crazy. But come on, I think we’re past the point of ‘not interested’ at least.”
Claire broke away, looking down, Pietro’s words sinking home as she reacted to them, and thought them over some more.
Am I interested in him? Have