Without another word, I headed towards the stairs. Breathing in the scent of Chelsea’s perfume with every breath.
“What..” Chelsea mumbled against my chest.
“It’s just me Chels, just Wicked. I am taking you to bed ok?” My voice was soothing.
“Ok.” She seemed to sag. All fight went from her. “Ok thank you, Ryan.”
I didn’t correct her. If she wanted to use my real name I would let her. Tonight at least.
“Do you need something to sleep in?” Setting her down on the bed I tugged down the messed up sheets. Messed up because only a few hours ago I had been making out on it like a randy teenage. Making out with her.
“No.” She snuggled down, looking small and pale. Her eyes never left mine though. “Can you stay?”
She was pleading. She didn’t want to be alone but I knew if I crawled in next to her and held her that my body would react. I would comfort her the only way I knew how. It would take her mind off of things for a little while and then she would hate me.
I didn’t want her to hate me.
“You know I can’t Chels.”
Eyes swimming with tears, she turned. Giving me her back. “Ok.”
Why did she have to sound like that? Not knowing what to do I stared at her. “Try and sleep.” Bending I kissed the top of her head.
“I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”
She didn’t answer me.
I couldn’t hold her in my arms tonight or any other night. Closing the door softly behind me, I closed my eyes. Part of me was looking forward to what was coming. The violence and the bloodshed. I knew how to do that.
I didn’t know how to comfort Chelsea. I didn’t have a clue how to be the man she needed right now.
Chapter Two
Chelsea
For one whole minute when my eyes opened I was totally oblivious to everything that, had happened the night before. I actually smiled. And that’s when it hit me.
My father was dead.
Like a freight train, it overcame me, a sob tearing its way out of my lips.
My father was dead and I had forgotten. I had woken up and smiled because I was in a bed that smelt of Wicked. What kind of daughter did that make me? What kind of lousy ass daughter?
“Chelsea?” Avery was there. Her hair sticking up in every direction as she skidded to a halt in the doorway. She looked like hell. Which was probably exactly how I looked as well. “What happened?” Her eyes were wild as they swept around the room. It was like she was expecting some kind of danger.
“Nothing…” I was sobbing too hard to talk properly. “I just forgot… Avery I forgot.” A great hiccuping sob ripped from me.
“Oh, Chels.” She crossed the room in an instant. Wrapping her arms around me so she could pull my head into her shoulder. Her hands soothing up and down my back. “Oh, you sweet girl. It’s ok. It’s going to be ok. You will see. Everything will work out in the end.” Her voice was soft. But that was Avery all over. Maybe it was because she was a mother. Maybe that’s what made her so eager to look after everyone. Not that I was complaining. Right now I would take all the mothering I could get. Especially when my own mother was hundreds of miles away.
All I wanted to do was curl up on my mum’s lap and cry. To let someone else look after me.
My dad had been many things. And he would have never won any dad of the year competitions but he was still my dad. And I was his little girl. He always looked after me. Always made sure I had everything I needed.
If he had been here he would have told me to wipe my tears and be strong and then when we were alone he would have stroked my hair and hummed softly as I cried myself to sleep.
But he wasn’t here. I would never again hear his off-key humming.
“I have snotted all over….” I pulled away, looking in dismay at the slime trail I had left on her shoulder.