Co
Chapter 321 Not Deserving
ELOISE.
To undo the ties of the hospital gown, Damon has to let go of my shoulders.
The loss makes me feel unsteady, so I reach out with my good hand and place my palm against his chest.
He freezes at my touch, and I don’t know why. I just know that I hate it.
With my gown off, Damon pulls a loose t-shirt over my head, one I recognize as his.
Then, he kneels before me, a pair of his sweatpants in hand, and he slides them up my legs, pulling the elastic bottoms up over my feet, so the extra material bunches at my ankles, and I realize these must be the pair I took from him before.
He gets halfway up my thighs, as far as he can get with me still sitting, then he pulls out a pair of his socks and slides them on.
My crying seems to bother him, so I bite down on my lip, trying my hardest to hold the tears back. But watching him dress me in his clothes, when it would’ve been just as easy to bring my own…it’s tying my heart in knots.
As he rises, he pulls another two items out of the bag that I hadn’t expected.
He undoes the fastening at the back of the baseball hat, making it as loose as possible, before gently setting it on my head. The worn material rested lightly on my hair, not bothering my injury, but blocking out light from above.
Then he leans down, so he can slide a pair of expensive-looking sunglasses onto my face.
They’re clearly his, since they’re big, and aren’t tight against my temples.
I can’t stop my sniffle, and staring straight ahead of me, I watch his throat work on a swallow.
“Let’s get you up, okay?” His words are soft and I want to know why he’s acting like this.
Together, we get me on my feet, and with a hand around my waist holding me steady, Damon pulls the sweatpants up the rest of the way.
It’s so close to an embrace, that I close my eyes and pretend it is.
DAMON.
Our dog circles, twice, before curling up at Eloise’s side.
I should go.
My hand grips the doorframe as I sway.
It’s been five nights. Five nights sleeping in another room. Five nights of drinking. Five nights of feeling
1/3
WED
12
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Chapter 321 Not Deserving
+20 Free Con
like absolute shit.
Because I miss her.
Because I crave her company as much as I crave her.
Our dog keeps his head up, staring at me. Like, close the door, dickhead.
This has become our routine. When it gets dark out, I bring him to the room. Keeping him in here, withy her, until the sun rises again. And while he gets comfortable, I stand here, wanting to go to my wife, bu not sure how.
And then, when this part is done, and I leave, I drown my sorrows. Every day it takes more to numb the pain.
Eloise shifts under the covers, and I step back, out of the room. Pulling the door quietly closed as I go, before she can see me.
In the hall, I take a second to just breathe.
But it doesn’t help.
So I do what I always do, I walk away from my sleeping wife and head down to my office.
I won’t sleep. Not for a while yet, so I might as well work.
I’m sitting down at my desk when my phone rings.
I debate for a moment not answering, but hit accept anyway, putting it on speaker so I can use both hands to pour some whiskey into a glass.
“Since I’m hoping you wouldn’t answer a call mid-stream, I’m going to assume you’re drinking.” Seb’s voice projects into the room.
“Such a detective,” I reply, swallowing a mouthful.
“Let me guess”–before Seb even starts, I know it’s time for a new best friend–“You’re over there, beating yourself up over what happened. And instead of facing the facts head on and getting the fuck over it, you’re being a drunk dumbass.” He makes a humming sound. “I’m also guessing you’re pulling some weird martyr shit and sleeping on the couch.”
“I hate you.”
Seb huffs, “So, I’m right.”
“I’m sleeping in a guestroom.” I correct him, like that makes it
“You do realize you’re doing it all wrong.”
“Oh, do I?” I snap.
any
better.
2/3
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