Unleashing Sin - A. M. Wilson Page 0,53
they know, you’re dead like they intended. I’d like it to stay that way. Forever, if possible.” He gives me a sad, furrowed look.
I scrub my eyes tiredly with the back of my hand. “And for two?”
“We need a plan.” The car slows and stops. When I look up, I realize we’re outside his apartment.
“I thought we were swinging by Sinclair’s?”
He stares out the windshield, his hand on the ignition. “I thought it’d be best to bring you home. I pushed too hard, and something happened you weren’t ready for. I take full responsibility for that.”
I bite my bottom lip at his thoughtfulness. “You didn’t know …”
Alex turns the car off. “I should have.”
With that parting thought, he exits and walks to my door. I slide out and follow him up the stairwell to his apartment. I immediately kick off my shoes and wander into the kitchen as Alex yanks off his leather jacket. My mind is blank as I make quick work of putting together a turkey club sandwich. I have the first bite in my mouth when I look up at Alex. “Do you want one?” I ask around a mouthful.
He leans against the closed door with his colorful arms crossing his chest. There’s a small sparkle in his eyes, a contrast to the look from moments ago in the car.
Not understanding his behavior, I take a second bite, and ask, “What?”
His lips twist into an amused smirk. “Blossom,” he says.
I wipe the sides of my mouth self-consciously. “What is it?” I ask, slower this time.
Alex looks to his feet while shaking his head. He pushes off from the door, stalks across the open-plan room and into the kitchen. His large arm circles my head, and I feel his lips against the crown.
“I’m so fuckin’ proud of you,” he murmurs there before letting go. Without another word, he walks to his room.
“What is happening?” I shout after him, more confused than I’ve felt in a long time.
With nothing on but a pair of low riding gray sweats, Alex reenters the room tugging on a fresh black T-shirt. “You made yourself a sandwich.”
Said sandwich gets paused midair on the way to my mouth while my mind works over what he said. “Am I missing something?”
He chuckles. “Yeah. What you’re missin’ is you’re getting comfortable with me. Sorry to point it out, but you makin’ yourself something to eat without even asking or waitin’ for me to feed you is a huge deal.”
I roll my eyes and can’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. I tear off another bite while feeling his praise warm me from the inside. “Do you want one? I think I’m going to lie down after this.” I finish my last bite and wipe the crumbs into the sink.
“I’ll make something later. Go on to bed, blossom. I’ll catch up in a bit.”
“Okay,” I answer and start to pack up the ingredients, but Alex stops me.
“I got it,” he says gently while plucking the jar of mayonnaise from my hands. His gaze roams my face. The look in his eyes sends warmth rushing through me, a feeling so brand new, yet I’m already beginning to love it.
“Thanks.” I grin and walk to his room.
After changing into one of his tees, I remove my sweats since I wore them all day and crawl beneath his sheets. As my head hits his pillow, I feel the conflict inside swirling. Seeing Clarissa and not knowing how to help those girls is one of the hardest things I need to face. The physical trauma I went through, the withdrawals, the healing, was hard as hell to overcome. And I know I owe most of my progress to Alex and Elias. The part that upsets me most is not knowing if I ever will be able to help them. And how will I move on with my life if I can’t?
I take a deep breath, feeling the tiredness deep in my bones. His woodsy scent of pine and soap calms the last remnants of anxiety from the day, and I’m able to drift off easily to sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
Sin
The warmth in my chest dissipates the moment the door to my bedroom shuts, an arctic chill taking its place. Shelby’s freak-out in the car returns to my mind with a vengeance. The images are so strong that I find myself settling on the couch with my head braced in my hands. What the fuck am I going to do?
And what the