Crossed by Lynn Rush

Author:Lynn Rush [Lynn Rush]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FHL Press
Published: 2022-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-One

“I’ve decided I like Chinese food very much.” I licked my fingertips of the sweet and sour sauce.

“I can see that,” Jayden said.

Empty boxes of food littered the living room floor. My glass of water sat up on the little table in front of the couch and Jayden’s soda bubbled next to it. He lay on his side on the couch, watching me eat and staring at my wings.

“You want to draw them, don’t you?”

He arched his left eyebrow. “How’d you know?”

“You watch things so closely, like memorizing them so you can draw them, right?”

“That first night you were here. When you slept for so long, I watched you.” He sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. “I think I sat on the edge of the bed for a solid hour watching you.”

His gaze bathed me in warmth.

“I knew there was something special about you. A reason you landed in my arms. The way you stumbled across that street. And then, in the elevator. You fit under my arm and against me so perfectly.” He drew in a deep breath. “Just like that picture of Home.”

I nodded, fully agreeing. Nothing felt more right.

Jayden sagged against the couch. “I’m sorry, Trin.”

“For what?”

“For being weak.”

I turned toward him, but I stayed on the floor, hugging my legs to my chest. “You aren’t weak.”

“When it came to Grace I was. She was so mean to you. I didn’t want to be with her, but I didn’t stand up for myself.” He stared ahead toward the dark TV. “I didn’t stand up for you.”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

“I haven’t stood up to anything in a while.”

“Since Amy.”

He nodded. “I failed you. Left you to be with Karen, then at the mall that man tried to take you.”

“May I ask what happened with Grace? Karen tells me you were a pair for a long time.”

He grabbed the back of his neck. “I was such a wuss. She bullied me from day one. I was tired of being alone. Then with Amy—she—well—she was there. And sometimes I was glad. But mostly, I just wanted to be left alone.”

“Sex?”

He snapped his gaze to me. Redness dusted the tips of his cheeks. But he nodded a yes.

“Karen told me some things today about that when I asked about sharing beds. I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was wrong to ask about it.” My heart slammed. “Karen talked like it wasn’t very uncomfortable to talk about.”

“That’s Karen for ya. Blunt, but fiercely loyal. She never trusted Grace. Never liked her. She liked you from the second I told her about you. Zander, too.”

“Because you started drawing again.”

He nodded.

“Sex?”

He nodded again. “People have sex, yes. And I’ve been with Grace.”

“Will you and I have sex tonight now that you’re not a boyfriend to Grace?” I wanted to be close to him. To remove her smell from him permanently.

“Wow. This is such an awkward conversation right now.”

“Why?”

“Just is. So much has happened in the few short days I’ve known you.

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