Page 124 of Unsuitable

You’re still here. She’s gone. But you are still here, and I care about you.

I can’t say that, so instead, I say, “It wasn’t your fault, Kas.”

He draws in a shuddering breath. “You don’t know anything.”

“So, tell me. You can talk to me.”

Pulling from my hold, he lifts his eyes to mine. They’re still glazed with alcohol. “You don’t want to know.”

“If you want to tell me, then I want to know.”

He turns from me, eyes on the wall, and his body sways. “You don’t want to get involved with me. I’m not a good man, Daisy.”

He’s said that to me before.

“Yes, you are,” I argue.

“No, I’m not.” His voice sounds so sure. He turns his head to look at me. “I’m a fucking monster, Daisy. Not like those bastards, but a monster all the same. The things I’ve done…”

The things he’s done?

Something cold and hard settles in my stomach. “What have you done?” My voice wavers.

He holds my stare for a moment longer, and then he looks away, back to the wall. “Nothing. Forget I said anything. I don’t even fucking know why I came here.” He stumbles back a step, his back hitting the wall.

I try not to let his words hurt me.

I try…with no success. They sting like a bitch.

Breathing through the hurt, I focus on him. “Let me help you,” I say softly, taking a step closer.

His eyes turn to mine. I can see fissures of pain in them, and they crack me wide open.

“No one can help me,” he whispers, broken. “I was lost a long time ago.”

Tears start to swim in his dark eyes, and I nearly start bawling.

“Fuck,” he mutters angrily. Then, he tips his head back against the wall, hitting it with a thud. He shuts his eyes and begins breathing in and out deeply.

I see movement from the corner of my eye and turn to see Cece standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

“All okay?” she asks, concerned.

“He’s just drunk,” I answer.

“I’m not drunk. I’m just happy,” Kas mutters.

My eyes flash to him. His are still closed.

I remember saying those very words to him when I was drunk.

“Do you want me to make coffee?” Cece asks.

I shake my head. “I’ll just put him to bed. Let him sleep it off.”

“I don’t wanna go to bed,” Kas mumbles.

“You’re going to bed,” I tell him.