Page 114 of The Heart Breaker

“What can I do?” I ask, hating this helpless feeling. “Tell me what you need, Aurora. Anything. Just say it.”

Her lip trembles when she shakes her head. “I just want to be here with you.”

My heart fucking breaks and I stand slowly, adjusting my hold on her before I lift her, and the fact that she doesn’t argue makes this even worse.

Aurora always has something to say. Always has some sharp little comment loaded behind her teeth. Even half asleep, she usually has enough bite left in her. But right now she just lets me carry her, folding into me as I take her to the bathroom.

I set her on her feet in front of the shower and reach past her to turn the water on. Then I pull my shirt over my head and let it drop to the floor before reaching for the hem of hers. I strip her out of her clothes piece by piece, dropping her jeans and underwear to the tile until she’s bare.

I strip off my own jeans but leave my boxers on, then step in first and test the water with my hand before guiding her under it.

I reach for the shampoo and work it between my palms.

“Tip your head back for me, baby,” I murmur.

She slowly leans her head back and I slide my fingers into her hair, working the shampoo through it while the water runs warm over her skin. She leans back into me and when her eyes drift shut, my stomach twists hard.

I should’ve gone with her. I should’ve stopped acting like I didn’t care. Should’ve stopped being such a coward and told her the truth—that I wanted more, wanted to be the person she could confide in.

That I just want her.

I rinse the shampoo from her hair, then reach for the body wash, squeezing some into my palm before my hands move over her skin.

I notice the red marks on her arm, and I stiffen. I want to tear him apart for putting those marks on her.

I blink and suddenly I’m fourteen again, standing between my father and Sophie, desperately trying not to be terrified.

I still remember the first time I hit him—it was the first and only time he put his hands on her. I stopped being scared and all I could think about was protecting my sister. He gave me a black eye for it, but I didn’t care, because he never touched her again.

The fear never really left. It just buried itself somewhere deep, waiting. And now it’s here, crawling back under my skin.

Only this time, it isn’t Sophie in my arms.

It’s Aurora.

She starts shivering the second I shut the water off, so I grab a towel and wrap it around her as soon as we step out. I dry her hair with one of my old T-shirts because it’s softer than a towel, and apparently that’s important to girls, I think. I remember Sophie telling me that once.

I work the shirt through Aurora’s hair, squeezing the water from it while she stands there, quiet and pliant in a way I’ve never seen from her before.

I fucking hate it.

Aurora is mouthy. Ruthless. This silence feels wrong on her.

I brush her hair back over her shoulder and bend my head, pressing my mouth to her skin.

“Are you hungry?” I ask. “I can make you something.”

She shakes her head beneath the towel and curls in on herself a little more.

I take her back to my room and help her into one of my shirts.

When she climbs into bed, she doesn’t say anything. Just settles on top of my comforter, turning on her side.

The hem of the shirt shifts and my eyes catch on the tattoo I put on her all those months ago.

There was a time I hated her enough that just hearing her name could wreck my whole day. I looked at her and saw my worst memory. I resented her. Loathed her. Wanted her as far away from me as possible.

But never, not once, not even at my worst, did I ever want to hurt her.