“Hey, baby.”
“How was work?”
He sighed into the phone. “Long night.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m just sorry I couldn’t be with you.”
We were spending a lot of time together, so the space was probably a good thing. It wouldn’t be good if we got sick of each other.
“What did you do?”
“Gavin and I just watched Lake Placid. Dumbest movie I’ve ever seen.” I rolled my eyes just thinking about it.
“You and Gavin?”
I heard the jealousy in his voice. Seriously? “Yeah.”
“Where are the other two?”
“At some party in the valley. They probably won’t be home until morning.”
The silence stretched for a moment. I didn’t think that was a good sign.
“Come over.”
“I’m already in bed.”
“You don’t need to get dressed up for me.”
I sighed. “I’m tired. I just want to go to bed. We don’t get much sleep over there.”
“I’ll make sure you do.”
Wow. This guy was not backing down. “Cash, I’m fine.”
“I don’t want you sleeping there if it’s just you two.”
“You’re overreacting.”
“No, I’m not,” he snapped.
This was a new side of Cash. I’d never heard him so pissed. “Why are you acting like this?”
That seemed to bring him down. He said nothing for a full minute, probably trying to recover. “I’m just concerned for your safety.”
“Gavin would never hurt me.”
He was getting frustrated. “Baby, just come over.”
“No,” I said firmly. “Gavin and I talked. There’s nothing going on.”
“From your end, maybe.”
I couldn’t believe he was acting like this. But I loved how jealous he was. It was kinda a turn-on, but I was also shocked at the same time. Where was this coming from? Gavin may have feelings for me, but he’d never act on them. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Cash didn’t respond for a long time. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
He hung up, pissed he didn’t get his way. Too bad.
I snuggled with my teddy bear and closed my eyes. When I felt myself doze off, someone knocked on my door.
“Cash is here.” It was Gavin.
I sat up in bed then pulled the hair out of my face. What did he just say? I pulled on my pajama bottoms then opened my door. “What?”
“Cash is here.” Gavin walked into his bedroom then shut the door. At least he didn’t slam it. We were making progress.
I opened the front door and saw Cash standing there.
“What are you doing?”
He looked me straight in the eye, and his confidence returned. “If you won’t sleep with me, I’ll sleep with you.”
“Again, what?”
Cash stepped into the apartment without being invited. Then he shut the door and locked it. “Let’s get to bed.”
I turned on him, my annoyance bubbling to the surface. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Cash lost it. He grabbed me then pushed me against the wall, his other hand cushioning the back of my head so the impact wouldn’t hurt. “I don’t want you sleeping here alone. Period.” The crazed look in his eyes shut my mouth. “You’re mine. Fucking mine.” He released me and stepped back.
I was too shocked to say anything.
“Now let’s get to bed.”
Was this really happening?
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bedroom. When we were alone, he stripped off his clothes and got into my twin-size bed. He barely fit. I had nowhere to lay except on top of him. I pulled off my bottoms then lay on his chest. Cash seemed to calm down after he got his way.
“You’re fucking crazy,” I whispered.
His hand moved through my hair.
“Why do you care?”
He moved slightly so my head had some pillow room. “I don’t trust him.”
“There’s a lock on my door.”
“That any idiot could pick.”
“Do you really think Gavin is the type of guy that would rape someone?”
Just the word made his eyes widen in rage. “I don’t know. But I’m not willing to risk it.”
“I’ve been alone with Gavin hundreds of times.”
That just pissed him off even more. Wow, that was a stupid thing to say.
“I’m not sharing you with anyone.”
“So you don’t trust me?” I snapped.
“That’s not what I said.” His voice started to elevate.
“It seems like it.”
He clenched his fist then took a deep breath. “I don’t know, okay? I don’t know why Gavin bothers me so much. I know you wouldn’t sleep with him. If you wanted to, it would have happened already. But for some reason, the idea of you being here alone with him just sets my teeth on edge. I can’t stand it. I’m sorry.”
My anger dimmed at his apology.
“I’m a selfish asshole and want you all to myself. You make me really happy and I don’t want to share you with anyone. Period.”
“Cash, you make me happy too.”
He rested his hand on the nape of my neck. “Don’t be mad at me. I just care about you.”
“I know.”
He leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead. The touch stung, burning my flesh. He’d never done that before. It was something I never experienced. I saw couples do it all the time, but I was a forehead virgin. Isaac never did it to me. Ever.
I sucked in a deep breath when he pulled away, recovering from the shock of the affection. His hand cupped my face and kissed me on the lips.
“I won’t keep you up,” he whispered. “Good night.”
Now I couldn’t sleep. “My brother is visiting for a few days. He’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Oh. That sounds nice.”
“Yeah…”
“What is it?”
“Pass,” I said.
He studied my face but didn’t question me. “How long will he be here?”
“Three days. So I guess we won’t be seeing each other for a while.”