Page 27 of Brick’s Anchor

"Why not?"

"Because she called me after Ryan got locked up. Asked if I could send money for a lawyer. Not 'how are you' or 'I miss you' or 'I'm sorry your brother's in prison.' Just money. Like that's all I was good for."

"What did you do?"

"Sent the money. Then changed my number."

Rosie nods slowly. "That's fair."

"Is it?"

"Yeah. Sometimes you have to protect yourself even from family. Especially from family."

Rain pounds against the window. Thunder rolls continuously. The storm is directly overhead now, violent and honest, exactly what it claims to be.

"I should call my family," Rosie says eventually. "Tomorrow. Let them know I'm alive."

"You want company when you do it?"

"You'd do that?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because sometimes the hard conversations are easier when you're not alone."

She studies me with those dark eyes. "You're really committed to this whole 'being helpful' thing."

"Apparently."

"It's working. The helpfulness. I feel less hurt than I did an hour ago."

"Good."

"Don't let it go to your head."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

She smiles. Just slightly. Just enough. "I should probably go. Let you have your room back."

Chapter 8 - Rosie

"I should probably go. Let you have your room back."

What the fuck am I saying?

I don't want to leave. Don't want to go back to a guest room or the common area or anywhere that isn't right here having the first real conversation I've had in… God, I don't even know how long. Before my ex. Before the warehouse. Before everything turned to shit.

But I can't stay here.

If I stay here, if I keep talking to him, keep smiling at his brutal honesty, keep getting closer to this massive, tattooed man who somehow makes me feel safer than I've felt in years, I'm going to do something stupid. Something I'll regret. Like kissing him.

And I can't kiss him.

I just told him and everyone that I hate men. All men. Every single one. I threw that declaration out there like a shield, like armor, like something that would protect me from ever being hurt again. And now I'm sitting in Brick's room, wearing his cut, wanting to press my mouth against his and see if his lips are as firm as they look.

This is insanity.