Save Me(WITSEC #2)(21)

“Same here,” Creed said, frowning at Knox.

Colt and Keelan didn’t appear to be upset, but kept looking from me to Knox and back repeatedly.

“It’s not what it looked like,” Knox said.

“That doesn’t make you sound guilty at all,” Keelan said caustically.

“He’s telling the truth. I fell and Knox tried to catch me.” I pulled Creed’s shirt down as far as it would go. “Unfortunately, I ended up exposing myself.”

Creed let out a frustrated noise and Colt ran his fingers through his hair with a heavy sigh. Keelan was staring at Knox with a smug look that seemed to piss Knox off more.

“Well, actually, I ended up flashing him before I fell.” I was blushing badly. I cleared my throat and looked at Knox. “In my defense, this all could have been avoided if you hadn’t made a fuss over me hanging the banner.”

He frowned at me. “You were going to fall.”

I rolled my eyes. “I was fine.”

“Accident or not, that doesn’t explain why he couldn’t remove his eyes from between your legs,” Creed snapped and scowled at Knox. “You said you didn’t want her. You said you didn’t want to have anything to do—”

“Creed,” Colt snapped, silencing his brother. I swore, whenever Colt hulked out, it always surprised everyone. It was such a drastic change from his kind demeanor. “It doesn't matter,” Colt said, calmly.

Creed’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue.

Colt’s attention flicked to me and his angry expression softened. “What are you doing up?”

It took a moment for me to answer because I was still digesting that Knox had told them that he didn’t want me. I shouldn’t have been upset about that. I shouldn’t have because I was in a relationship with Colt and Creed. I shouldn’t have, yet my heart hurt. “I couldn’t sleep,” I said and tried to scoot to the edge of the island, but my bare butt was sticking to the granite.

“Are you stuck, baby girl?” Keelan asked with mirth in his eyes.

I didn’t find any of this funny. “Can you all close your eyes? I get that everyone has seen my vagina, but I would like to get off this counter with a little dignity.”

Keelan spun around. “If it makes you feel better, I haven’t seen it.”

“Fucking Christ,” Knox cursed and turned around.

The twins averted their eyes and I hopped off the island. “I’m down,” I announced and Keelan and Knox turned back around.

“Did you sleep at all?” Creed asked me.

I busied myself with collecting the plastic wrapping that the decorations had come in. “I don’t want to sleep.”

“That’s not what he asked,” Knox grumbled.

I shoved what I’d collected into the trash can with a little more force than necessary. “An hour.”

“You need to come back to bed and get some sleep,” Colt said.

“I said I don’t want to sleep!” I roared. Guilt hit me instantly and I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t believe I had just exploded on them like that. “I’m sorry.” They were pushing the matter because they cared. They didn’t understand. I opened my eyes. They all seemed surprised, except Knox. He was watching me carefully with his intense brown eyes. “I’m sorry,” I said again.

“You want to tell us what that was about?” Creed asked.

I forced myself to appear calm even though panic was building in my chest. “I guess not sleeping is catching up with me. I’m sorry I yelled. You’re right. I should go back to bed.”

Colt made his way over and pulled me into his arms. “It’s alright. We’re just worried.”

“I don’t want that.” I pushed away from him. “Let me just put the cake in the fridge and I’ll come back to bed.”

“I can do it,” Keelan offered.

“It’s your birthday cake—”

“Just because it’s my birthday doesn’t mean my hands are broken,” Keelan interrupted me with a grin. “Go back to bed.”

I nodded tightly and let Colt usher me away.

“Shiloh,” Keelan said before we left. I glanced back at him and saw him looking at all the decorations. “It looks amazing in here. It means a lot that you did all of this.”

“I’m not done yet,” was all I could say before I walked with the twins back to Creed’s room.

I felt like I was outside my body watching as I forced myself to climb into the bed between them. I pretended to get comfortable with Creed snuggled up behind me and Colt holding my hand. I lay there with my eyes closed, faking sleep, fighting back my anxiety.

After they fell back to sleep, I couldn’t stand to lie there any longer. I snuck out of bed, grabbed my dress and heels off the floor, and left.

“Shiloh.”

I paused for a moment a few feet from the front door. Refusing to look back, I scooped my wristlet and keys out of the bowl. “I’m going home, Knox. I’ll see you later.” Not giving him a chance to say anything, I opened the front door and left.





8





What I wouldn’t give for a cigarette. That thought kept tumbling in my mind. I still had a carton left in the bottom drawer of my dresser. The temptation to go get it made my skin tingle, but I kept my butt planted in my chair at my kitchen island as I drank my third cup of coffee.