“That must have been really hard. You left home all alone at eighteen.”
I smirk. “Girl, you did, too. You’ve been on your own just as long. You didn’t even have parents at all.”
“True, in a way, but it sounds like my foster parents loved and supported me more than your real parents. Plus, I didn’t have anything to lose. I always knew I would be on my own at eighteen.”
“You’re the most hardworking person I know,” I tell her. “I’ve always been in awe of your strength.”
“Thank you. I think you’re pretty badass, too.” She jumps to the floor and leans in to hug me. “If you tell Daddy I was cussing, I’ll tell him you had two sodas while they were outside.”
I gasp. “You rat. I didn’t have any soda.”
She giggles. “Well, I didn’t cuss, either, did I?”
“Nope. I never heard a thing.” I’ve missed Natasha. I’m glad she’s back from her vacation. I hate that I’m not the same person I was before she left, but hopefully, I can eventually shake out of this stupor and reclaim my life.
Chapter 9
Camden
* * *
“I should go back to my apartment.”
I jerk my gaze up from the book I’ve been pretending to read.
Simone is standing in the doorway to the library. Her hands are clasped together. She’s wearing soft cotton yoga pants, a pink T-shirt, and socks. Her hair is in a ponytail. It’s brown now, which is a better color for her.
I hold out a hand so she’ll come to me. “What do you need from your apartment, Baby girl? I can go get it, or maybe Natasha and Jameson could make a trip over there.”
“No. I should go back there to live.”
I figured that’s what she meant, but since it doesn’t compute, I ignored it. My chest tightens. She has shuffled slightly closer, but the distance between us is still huge.
I keep my hand extended to her. “Come, Little one. What’s brought this on?”
She inches closer. “I need to work out my shit. I can’t do that if I hide from my life. Your home is a fortress. No one can get to me here. It’s too easy to pretend nothing ever happened.”
“Simone, you’re safe here. Why would you want to go somewhere that makes you feel unsafe?”
She shrugs. “Because that’s real life. People live in apartments. They walk from their cars to the front door. They take stairs and elevators. That’s life.”
“That is life for most people, but you’re not most people. You don’t need to do that. I’d rather pack up your apartment and move everything you need here.”
She lowers her gaze to the floor. “I’m a burden to you.”
Jesus.
“Simone,” I say, my tone harsher. “Are you going to come to me, or do I need to come get you?”
She lifts her gaze. Her brow is furrowed from some odd frustration. “Why are those my only two choices? Why don’t you ever get more dominant with me? I bet if I’d never been attacked and I ignored a directive like that, you would have me over your knees already.”
“This is true. Your ass would be red hot by now. Is that what you want?” I’m not sure what she’s trying to tell me. I’m not sure she knows either.
She shrugs. “Sometimes,” she mutters. “Everything is all messed up. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” A small sob escapes her, and she wrings her hands together.
I lower my hand to point at the floor in front of me without saying a single word. I need to be firm. I’m not going to engage until she’s standing where I’ve told her to.
She sniffles, but she closes the distance. Finally.
