Page 44 of Hold You Close
I have to make sure those kids feel secure in their new life. London and I can at least agree that they come first.
“I appreciate it. Listen, I’m going to need some extra help around here. I’d like you to start training a new bartender so you can help out with more management stuff. My niece has some things coming up, and apparently it’s an entire weekend where I’ll need to take off. There will probably be a lot more of these too. I’d like to have you and Drea run the show when I need to be at home.”
There’s no one else I would trust to do this. He knows how this scene works and how to grow. Drea can manage the customer side and Toby can cover the business aspects when I’m gone.
“Are you sure? I mean, I’m cool with helping out, but . . .”
“Yeah, man, I’m sure.”
“All right. There’s a few bartenders from another club looking to make a change. I’ll see if any are available on the nights you need me to do other stuff.”
I look down at my watch and groan. “I need to get going, it’s already three and I have to get the kids to school by eight.”
He laughs. “Better you than me.”
“It would be better if it was their parents,” I say before draining my glass.
“Yeah, see you tomorrow, Ian.”
I head out the back door, getting into my Porsche, and leaning my head back. I’m fucking beat. I’m used to long, late hours but I usually can sleep in. Now, I’m up at o’dark thirty and still have to stay up. Once I drop them off at school, I have no plans of getting out of bed.
A smile forms when I think about what might be waiting for me in that bed.
London Parish.
I want nothing more than to get home and find her lying there, hair spilled across my pillow. I’ll crawl in behind her, wrap my arms around her, and then I’ll fuck her senseless. If I can just get this crazy lust I feel for her out of my system, then maybe we can go back to normal.
Not wanting to wait another second, I start driving home.
It takes about fifteen minutes and when I turn on the street, the house is pitch black. Being as quiet as I can, I go inside.
First, I head upstairs, open each of the kids’ rooms, and check on them. I don’t know why, but being away from them was an oddly uncomfortable experience. I wondered if they were okay all night long. Did Morgan finish her homework? How was Chris’s attitude? Did London make sure Ruby had her ratty panda to go to sleep with?
Then I thought about her.
Once I’ve checked on them all, I go to my room. I’m not sure if she took me up on the offer to sleep in my bed, so I use the light on my phone, but the bed is empty.
I should’ve known. She’s way too fucking stubborn to give in. London would rather sleep on a bed of nails then be anywhere near me.
She has no idea that even after all this time, I still want her.
I walk out to the living room and sure enough, she’s on the couch.
“Why can’t you ever give in?” I ask quietly as I brush her hair back. “You make everything a fight.”
Nothing has ever been easy with us. I hardened myself to everything pertaining to her once I fell on my sword to ensure she had the life she deserved. London would’ve lost everything if I hadn’t walked away. Hurting her that day was the worst thing I’ve ever done, but it was the only option.
Still. It was like someone cut me open when I saw her tears at that party. She would never forgive me, and I’d never forgive myself.
I look down at her, hating that instead of sleeping where she’d be physically comfortable, she’s here to be away from me.
Maybe I’ll never be able to get her to see me differently. Should I even try?
“Fuck it,” I mutter and lift her into my arms. She doesn’t deserve to sleep on the couch.
“Ian?”
“Shhh,” I tell her, holding her to my chest. “I’ve got you.”
