Page 63 of Bloody Bones
“Jesus, Raze, shift so I can talk to you…oh...” I glanced at him as realisation hit. “You don't have any clothes on in your human form do you?”
Soulful brown eyes didn't blink, and I stifled another giggle.
“Bathroom? There's towels in there.” I pointed to the open door behind him. “I'll make some coffee.”
* * *
“You shouldn’t have started getting changedin front of me, Briella.” Raze said as he walked out the door, he paused, tightened the towel around his waist and glared at me. “That wasn't cool.”
“I was covered up, Raze.”
“Tommy wouldn't like it.”
I froze, the coffee from the little machine by the TV still in my hands. “Tommy's not here, and it's none of his business. We broke up.” I passed him the cup before it could slip out of my hands.
Raze's face was unreadable. “He doesn't seem to think so.”
“He will get used to the idea.” I blew over my steaming coffee. There was no milk and sugar, but it would have to do. I felt like I had the world's worst hangover without having touched a drop of alcohol. The caffeine was needed.
“No, he won’t, Briella. And neither will you. This fight is just stupid.”
“Please, a man like Tommy will have someone else before the week is out.” I didn't even know why we were having a conversation about it. My relationship with Tommy was none of his business, and it was over.
“He won't let you go.”
“Anyone would think I was his first girlfriend.”
I expected Raze to laugh. He didn't. “First, last. You're his forever now.”
“What?” I stammered, spilling coffee down my front as my lips pursed together. “You can't be serious. I’m his first?” I shook my head.
“Believe what you want, Briella, it's the truth.” Raze continued to stare at me unblinking. “But you need to go back to him. He lost himself when his brother died, and he will lose himself if you leave. Could you deal with that? Could you live with it on your conscience?”
Could I? No.
“He will be fine. Why are you here, Raze? Because Tommy asked you to talk to me?”
“No, he asked me to watch out for you. He’d actually be pissed if he could see me sitting having coffee with you in just a towel.” He chuckled.
“Then why are you talking to me? I got the impression that you didn't like me much.”
“I liked you just fine, Briella. But I could see how wrapped up in you Tommy was from the moment he saw your picture, and I knew it would cause nothing but trouble. I was looking out for my buddy, for my club.”
“And now?”
“I'm still looking out for him. He loves you which means I look out for you as well.” Unflinching, brown eyes met mine. “Just go back to him. You know he hasn’t fucked around with anyone else. You know he will do anything for you. So stop being pig-headed and go back to him.”
“I can't. It doesn't mean I don't want to, but I can't.”
“Because of the children?” He didn't wait for me to answer. “How about I help you get them back? Or at least, I can help you try.”
“You would do that for me?” My mug almost slipped from my fingers, and I put it down gingerly.
“I would do that for Tommy. If that’s-”
A small knock on the door interrupted him.
“It's a woman, not Tommy.” Raze moved backwards, hiding himself from sight as I opened the door. I didn't have a chance to even contemplate how he knew who was on the other side without me answering it.
