Page 47 of Equilibrium
Okay, when he said it like that, I sounded like a broken record because yes, I was going to repeat the same words.
“But you are in no condition to be out there alone.” Tempest in those green eyes connected with mine, and I hated the clenching of my heart when I wanted nothing more but to be indifferent to him, his touch, the way he behaved with me. “And we both know there are people who would want nothing more but to hurt you.”
Goddammit, he was right. If I wanted to find Maya, I had to stop being reckless. Theo said she was in Mexico, but it wasn’t like I could just waltz in there, expecting to find her in the first few days.
“So, I have a proposition for you.”
If I were a dog, my ears would perk up at that. “A proposition?” The last time somebody had a proposition, I ended up engaged to a cheating bastard, with one dead friend and a whole lot of baggage.
“Stay here.” The words of refusal were on the tip of my tongue, as he continued, “I’m not saying stay with me in my room, but you need to heal, Sunshine. And I am honestly not gonna let you go out there while you look like this.”
“Geez, thanks.”
“You know what I mean.” He laughed. “You look like the best thing I always wanted to have, but that is not the point here. That finger of yours…” He looked at my right hand. “I want a doctor to look that over. And I have no idea if there’s anything wrong in here.” He tapped my temple with his forefinger.
Oh, boy. I could give him a list of all the things that were wrong up there, but then we would have to stay here for at least a month while I wrote them all down.
“Okay,” I started reluctantly. “And what do you get in return?” I wasn’t falling for this Saint Storm bullshit. Everybody wanted something, it just depended on what that something was.
“I want you to stay.” Dark lashes fluttered against his cheeks as he avoided my eyes. My heart fucking went into overdrive, because shit. I don’t even know why. “And, if you still want to leave after we find Maya, I won’t stop you.”
Did he just saywe? He did, didn’t he?
Fuck me sideways and six ways to Sunday. Why was I fighting this so much? He was right, it wasn’t like he was asking me to marry him. He asked me to stay, to heal, to meet these people. He wanted to help me find Maya. He did everything in the way I wanted it to be done, and even though it’s been two days, I couldn’t help myself but be grateful for it.
“Thank you,” I muttered. “I-I don’t know how to...” I trailed off, clearing my throat. “I don’t know how to trust people, Storm. They fucked up that part of me, and it’ll take me time to heal from that.”
His face darkened at the mere mention of them. I didn’t have to specify who they were. We both knew.
“But,” I started speaking before he could interrupt. “I can try.”
Christmas gifts given to kids, that’s how his face looked—shining eyes and a wide smile.
“And I want a separate room.” The inner bitch glared at me, but if I was going to stay here, I needed some space from him. I needed time to figure out my own shit, and it wasn’t going to happen if I had to sleep in the same bed with him. And it wasn’t because I didn’t trust him; I didn’t trust me.
“Done.” He agreed way too fast, even though I could tell that he wanted to keep me in his room. Dammit, I wanted it too, but it had to happen this way.
I was too busy staring at him, battling with myself, that I didn’t even notice when the same girl walked to our table, placing the food he ordered on top of it.
“Your order is here.” Even her voice was sweet, and it irked me even more because I knew I was the complete opposite of her. What if he actually liked somebody like that?
Argh, I hated these thoughts. I was never concerned about Kieran, until he of course fell cock first inside Cunthya’s pussy, but that wasn’t on me or the way I looked and behaved. However, Storm didn’t even spare her a glance as he thanked her, turning his attention to the food.
A wicked little smirk took a hold of my face, directed at the girl that still stood there gaping at him. Noticing me for the first time, she flinched and took a step back, rushing to her counter.
Good.
I wasn’t above wringing somebody’s little neck if they couldn’t take a hint. I don’t give a fuck if you were a man or a woman, but if you see that somebody’s not interested in you, just back off. Back the fuck off and don’t bother poor people.
“Are you going to eat or are you going to keep staring at that poor girl?”
He fucking noticed? Of course, he noticed.
I didn’t reply, instead taking the burger he kept for me, unwrapping the foil away from it. The heat seared through my hands, but it smelled fucking delicious. I didn’t even mind that we were eating another burger when I already had three of them today. It was a favorite food and all that shit.
I never said I was a wholesome adult, right? Some people had breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with those nice food groups properly checked. I ate when I had time, and I didn’t give a fuck about food groups. The kitchen was a foreign concept for me, because after that one time I almost burned my apartment down trying to prepare popcorn in the microwave, I just gave up trying.
But burgers, damn. Whoever invented them, I hope they had an amazing life.
