No texts either.
Of course, I could hardly blame him after everything that had happened. But did I blamemyself?
Nowthatwas a tricky question.
I was still asking it when my gaze drifted to the pile of wrapped packages on the bedroom floor. With a pang, I recalled Drake coming into the department store and buying a bunch of stuff he didn't need just to talk to me at work.
And then, I recalled his response when I'd heard that noise outside my bedroom window.He'd literally run to my rescue.And afterward, he'd gone outside to check for danger while insisting that I remain in the house.
As the memories piled up, I blinked long and hard with new regret. He'd done all of this in a single night – cheerfully and without complaint. I felt my stomach sink. And what had he gotten in return?A whole lot of grief, that's what.
I tossed aside my cell phone and reached up with both hands to rub at my temples as the memories pounded away in my skull. There was also the thing with Lexie.God, I'd been such a witch.In my whole adult life, I'd never acted so awful, especially to someone who was only trying to help.
What had gotten into me, anyway?
I closed my eyes and let out a long, weary breath. Last night was such a disaster, and I'd done nothing but make it worse.
It was true that Drake wasn't completely blameless, but if I put our mistakes on a scale,myside would sink a lot lower thanhis.Or, if I looked at it in a different way, he'd done so many things right thatmyside was seriously lacking.
I didn't know if our relationship was salvageable, but Ididknow that I couldn't leave things as they were. Without stopping to second-guess it, I snatched up my phone and pulled up Drake's name.
I was just debating between calling or texting when the phone vibrated with a familiar ring – Drake's ring.
I answered so fast, it should have been embarrassing. "Drake?"
"Nope."
I paused.But it was Drake's voice. And Drake's number.
What the heck?"
But then he spoke again. "It's Murphy."
I didn't get it. "So…you want me to call you Murphy now?"
With a hint of a smile, he replied, "No. I'm just making a point." He gave a rueful chuckle. "And doing a sorry job of it."
At something in his tone, I felt nearly breathless with relief. "What point is that?"
"The thing is, I'm not who you think I am. But if you want to come over, I'd like to show you."
Chapter 49
Drake
At the sound of the doorbell, I glanced at the clock.Fifteen minutes.That had to be some kind of record.
When I pulled open the door, Gwen offered up a tentative smile. "Hey."
She looked cute as hell, and I soaked up the sight of her. "Hey yourself." Her coat was only partially zipped, and her hair was pulled back into an off-kilter ponytail with loose strands escaping around her face. The look reminded me of the first day we'd met, and I smiled at the memory. "You got herefast."
Her smile faltered. "Oh, did you need more time?"
I laughed. "Hell no. I've been waiting since four."
As I stepped aside to let her in, she asked, "You mean four in the morning? But you just called at eight – or a little after."
"Yeah," I chuckled as I shut the door behind her. "But I've been awake for hours. If I wasn't worried about scaring you, I would've knocked at your window hours ago."
