The next thing I know, it’s morning.
10
Lia
“Get dressed. We’re leaving.”
I wake up to the weight of a heavy plastic bag falling on top of me.
“Fuck! Ow! Asshole!”
For a moment, I’ve forgotten where I am.WhenI am. It’s like we’re back in school, and I’m insulting the cute boy who makes my heart flutter, just so I can ease the pain in my chest.
It’s not a cute boy but an enraged man who glares at me as I rub the sleep out of my eyes before sitting up slowly, reaching a hand out to make sure Aurora is still sleeping beside me.
He turns around slowly, and I lash out in a mocking tone, “Aren’t you gonna watch me get dressed?”
He looks back over his shoulder, his features so hard they make me shiver. “I’d rather kill myself than see you naked.”
Oh.
I was trying to hurt him, but I’m the one whose eyes are stinging when he slams the door hard enough to wake Aurora. Blinking quickly so she doesn’t see me cry, I look through the bag of clothes, finding a pair of jeans, some crop tops, two dresses and fresh contact lenses. There’s lots of stuff for Aurora too, and all of it in the right size. I wonder passingly who boughtit, but I forget about it when Aurora starts to whine.
“I’m hungry, mama,” she says while I get her dressed.
I hunt in yesterday’s bag for a banana, some biscuits, and a bottle of water.
“Milk, mama,” she whines harder.
“Shh, baby,” I croon, kissing her curls. “I’ll get you milk soon.”
Wondering how I’m going to keep that promise, I take off the shirt and jeans caked with mud that have gotten uncomfortably stiff overnight, then dig through the bag again, hesitating between a pair of jeans and a dress.
Do I want to look sexy? What will he say if he sees me in this? Will he hurt me again? Do I… do I want him to?
I’m still naked and hesitating when the door opens again, and Logan clicks his tongue in impatience.
“Seriously? This isn’t a fucking fashion show. Just put anything on. Here, this is fine.”
The red dress I’d just been thinking about wearing is lying in a heap on the floor. I swallow nervously, because I just don’t know how I feel about the idea of going around with something this sexy in front of him.
The thought I had yesterday about offering my body flits through my mind again, but this time, it doesn’t elicit the same kind of reaction.
It felt like a safe, albeit disgusting thought when I had it in front of Everest. I knew he’d never take me up on it. I’m aware he’s more interested in… well, drywall… than in my tits.
But I just don’t know what Logan would do. Is there anything still hiding underneath the anger?
Maybe I should try. For Aurora. To buy her safety.
I wouldn’t be above selling my body for her.
It’s a pretty fucked-up thought, but it’s only just starting to take shape in my mind when he suddenly whips me around,apparently intent on forcing me to get dressed.
But then his eyes land on my breasts. Despite the uncomfortable thought that’s slowly been taking hold of me, I automatically squeeze my arms together, trying to hide them, but he forces my hands back down, trapping my wrists in one hand.
“Everest!” he calls out. “Take the baby downstairs!”
“No, no, no,” I protest, as he grabs the bedcover and drapes it over me just as Everest pops his head in. “Don’t take her from me, Logan. Please.”