Chapter 20: Chapter 19

Paisley

I have no idea when or how it happened. One moment I was behind Zeke, safe and protected but haunted by every memory. Then, the next moment, he was gone.

His thick, powerful arms stretching back before slamming into the soft flesh of another person—not just anyone’s flesh. No, it was the flesh of the man who reined hell down on my fairytale.

Caleb stopped Troy from attacking Zeke while Blake and Jay tried to pull Zeke off…stopping him from doing something he’d never be able to come back from.

Tania stood in the back. This is her fault , and no-one could stop me.

I thread my fingers through her hair, and using all my anger, fear, and pain, I pull her head toward my knee, slamming the two firmly.

With a startle, I realize this is real-time and not a fantasy or memory. Blood splatters and tears fall, but I’m blind with rage. I pull my arm back, fist clenched, and send a perfectly lined left hook.

She goes down in a crumpled heap.

“This is all your fucking fault,” I scream, and she stares at me wide-eyed. Her tears and blood mix and form a puddle on the floor and stain her shirt.

I’m right on the edge, about to lose my mind as everything I have ever pushed down swells to the surface, ready to blow. The cork has finally popped, and I have no idea what’s going to happen.

Arms wrap around me, and I’m ready to scream until his scent warms me. ~Zeke.~

“I want to go home,” I beg, pushing him away as my tears form.

I look at Zeke. His face is lined with worry. He steps toward me, but I shake my head and move back.

I don’t want to break, not here in front of everyone. I want to be at home. I need to get the hell out of Austin and head back to Round Top. I’ll be safe at Daddy’s ranch.

“Paisley, let me take you home—”

“No,” I cut London off. “I need to go back home.” I plead her with my eyes. ~Please don’t try to stop me and don’t ask any questions. Just let me go.~

“Baby girl, you don’t…”

The tears fall when I hear his voice. It’s just too much, everything is too much.

I walk off leaving it all behind. I need to pick up my stuff and Buster, then get out of here immediately. I pick up my pace when I sense someone following me.

I can see my apartment. I’m almost there.

His hand touches my shoulder and I’m done. My silent tears become full-on sobs. God, he must think I’m a freak to have such a one-eighty reaction.

“Please, just let me go,” I beg him, standing on my doorstep.

I’ve lost every ounce of control that I had. Every breath of fight I had is gone.

He spins me and pulls me into his chest, caging me n the safety of those muscular arms. He tucks my head into the crook of his neck, then tilts his own head to cover mine.

He rests his one hand on the back of my head and wraps the other around my waist. He holds me tenderly, allowing me to pour out my emotions.

His arms cage me, shutting the outside world away, and his breath soothes my ear. My eyes close and welcome the peaceful darkness. I feel thankful I can now rest. ~I love him.~

***

Water drips onto my face, and I try to pull my comforter further over my head without success as Buster continues to lick me.

Groaning at the unnecessary wake-up call, I push the comforter down, still refusing to open my eyes just yet. My head pounds in confusion. I don’t recall coming home last night from the bar.

“It’s too early,” I groan. “I need sleep.”

Buster barks in between licks, and nuzzles my arm. I’m quite happy not to wake up today, or for the next few, for that matter.

Buster continues his assault, and I finally give in with a groan and grumble. I let out a hiss as I move my hand and it twinges.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty. How are you feeling?” London stands just outside my bedroom door, and I wonder why she’s here.

“Exhausted. How come you’re here?”

“I brought you home last night, just like you asked me to, and it was too late to drive back.”

~Drive?~ She lives in the apartment across the way.

“Just come downstairs, and we’ll talk,” she says, then walks away. Buster follows.

“Why am I at the ranch?” I come down the stairs, hungover and feeling it. As a bonus, I don’t remember a thing.

“You don’t remember last night? You begged me to bring you here, right after completely breaking down in Zeke’s arms over something some asshole said about the past.”

She crosses her arms. “Seriously, Pails, what’s going on with you? You scared the crap out of me last night.”

I take a seat at the breakfast bar, and London passes me a coffee as Buster flops to the floor. Both keep their eyes on me.

“Who’s Zeke? And I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head or something. It’s way too early to deal with this shit right now. Still, I sit and listen to the run-down of last night’s antics, cringing as she continues the story.

I’m completely humiliated, and even though the memories of the ranch want to take over, I’m quite glad to be hiding out back home in Round Top.

“Please, tell me you watched a movie, and this is the plot you’re recounting right now. Please,” I beg her, but she shakes her head.

A new batch of tears begin to fall.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re gonna be fine. Don’t worry about the guys. They were just concerned about you, and Zeke demanded to know where I was bringing you.

“Before you say anything, let me tell you that I didn’t tell him. You need to talk to him, though. I’ve never seen him act this way before. He’s usually all calm, cool, and collected, unless Blake has anything to do with it.

“But the way he took those guys out with one punch… Shit. Pails, he did it for you…to protect you.”

My eyes widen, I know exactly the type of man Dusty is.

She continues, “You’d think all that blubber would soak up the impact. Babe, Zeke didn’t let up, either. He threw a smackdown, and it took Jay, Blake, ~and~ Caleb to stop him.”

“I just don’t understand what happened, and since when do I need some guy to fight my battles?”

“Pails, I’m going to level with ya. You weren’t in your right frame of mind last night. Whoever that guy was, whatever he said, he got to you.”

“But Zeke, how could I… How could I forget everything? Again.”

I fill my mug up with more coffee, trying to wrap my head around what London’s saying, but I really can’t believe it.

The whole thing is just a wide, open, empty space. And why the hell would I have her bring me back here?

“Don’t ignore me, Pails. You love Zeke, and you need to stop fighting it. You, more than anyone, deserve to be happy. You deserve the world, babe. Just because some asshole tried to bring you down, don’t sacrifice Zeke.”

“I could say the same to you. I see the way Blake looks at you. And it isn’t like you’re his next meal ticket. He worships the ground you walk on.”

London swipes at a tear.

“That’s a story for another time… Let’s just get your mess figured out, then we can work on me. Now, we need to talk about what happened last night.

“Who were those guys? I recognized the one from when we were out shopping. It was Troy. The dick from the bar when you helped out that first night.”

I nod. It was him, but he was nothing compared to the man who stood beside him. I’ll never forget those eyes…that smell.

I shudder.

“If I’m going to talk this out, we’re gonna need something stronger than coffee.”

“By the way, well done for putting Tania in her place last night. That was one amazing fucking punch, girl,” London says.

I just laugh. That explains why my hand is sore.