Page 31 of West (The Moral Compass 1)
“West, you’re the best, and I love you.”
What the fuck? I can hear voices. It’s 6:00 a.m. Who would be here at this time?
I quietly hobble into the living room, but with his back to me, he doesn’t see me coming. He’s on his laptop on a call. The person on the call, however, does see me, and she points. He turns around and, with one quick hand, shuts the laptop screen down.
“Hey, what are you doing out of bed without your crutches?” he asks as if what I’ve just seen is normal.
“I came to find you. I woke up, and you were gone. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I came out here. Why? Should I have stayed in the bedroom?”
“Well, yes. You should have stayed put and shouted for me. We had this conversation yesterday. You don’t have your crutches, and you could have fallen.”
“Oh, so you’re concerned for my welfare? Not that I just caught you doing something you didn’t want me to see? That’s okay, then.” I’m trying not to sound neurotic.
“What’s that supposed to mean? I wasn’t doing anything,” he says so calmly, like he didn’t just disconnect a call for no reason other than I walked in the room.
“Oh, okay. Well, go back to your call with the pretty blonde, then.” I smile, tilt my head and nod again. “Go on, don’t mind me. I’ll just make some coffee and go have a shower.”
“Sutton, it’s not what you think, honestly. Actually, I don’t know what you think, but it’s nothing bad or wrong, and the pretty blonde is not another woman.”
He actually called her fucking pretty and he does know what I think, or he wouldn’t have referred to the woman as another woman.
He sits by his laptop staring at me but makes no attempt to open it back up.
“It’s fine, I’m going for a shower.” I grab my crutches and hobble back to my bedroom and start my shower routine. Two hours in here might just sort me out.
I don’t know why I’m so jealous. I don’t even know the guy that well, and we are not awe,andweare not a thing. He’s just a nice guy helping me out who is also going to be my boss in a few weeks. The only problem is that I need to stop sleeping with him. He is going to be my new boss, and he obviously has other entertainment to choose from.
This is your new start, Sutton Smith V2, so let’s not make a mess of it before it’s begun.
***
Two hours of showering is the best thing in the world. I can hear West outside in the corridor whilst I’m finishing my hair and makeup. Just because he’s a dog with two dicks doesn’t mean that I need to let myself go. Okay so I can’t walk well yet, and I still need my crutches, but it’s time I got out of here and at least got some fresh air.
I open the door and manoeuvre quite well down the hallway. I pick up my purse and pop my phone in. I turn to look, but West is nowhere to be seen. A cheeky little smile appears on my face. I can escape on my own. I can go get a coffee on my own. I can breathe fresh airon my own.I’ve never been good at being cooped up, and between the hospital and the last two days, I’m starting to feel helpless. So today Sutton Smith V2 is on a mission. Coffee for one.
I get as far as the elevator when the guilt starts to pick at me. He’s been so good to me, and I’m gonna do a disappearing act and worry him even more.
No you’re not, Sutton.
I hobble back to the apartment and knock on the door. I wait a few seconds and knock again. Still no answer.
What the fuck? Where is he? My legs are starting to hurt and standing on these stupid crutches is hurting my hands.
I dig in my purse to find my phone. Pulling up his number, I press call.
It rings.
It rings again.
It rings some more.
I can hear it on the other side of the door, but he’s not answering it. Is he sitting there laughing at me?
Shit, Sutton, what have you done?
I lean back and rest my back against the door. I’ll try again in a few minutes. The elevator pings and out strides the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. Tight jeans, a tight white t-shirt that is showing off far too much muscle, and a smile as beautiful as the sun.
“West, where have you been? I’m locked out and I’ve been ringing you.”
