Chapter 4
Tobias

How do you trust a person after the one who was your everything betrayed you by sleeping with your best friend?

You don’t.

At least not me.

“I don’t need a bodyguard!” Hannah exclaims as we take off our shoes inside my hallway, which now is hers too.

“You do need one,” I say without facing her. All I want right now is a shower and some much-needed rest.

“No one would try to assassinate me!”

I arch an eyebrow while hanging up my coat, watching her over my shoulder as I do. “No, but… Someone might try to press me for money by kidnapping you.”

Hannah looks shocked by my words. Fear enters those ice-blue eyes, and then something weird happens: I, Tobias Ford, feel guilt for pulling this woman into my crazy life and schemes.

The guilt trip lasts for about three seconds. Then I remind myself that Hannah needs this. She is a broke college student, and I’m the answer to her problems.

I shouldn’t feel guilty.

Still, I sigh. “Look, how about we talk about this tomorrow? It’s late, and I have an early day tomorrow.”

Noticing my tiredness, Hannah relents. Her expression softens, and she stops pressing her agenda. How interesting. It seems former Mrs. Darling cares more about other’s people well-being than her own. I admire that.

“I suppose I can wait until tomorrow,” Hannah looks around and takes in the space around her. Her eyes widen like I knew they would, and shock crosses her features. “So this is your house…”

“Yes.”

She laughs, and I stare her down.

“Did I say something funny?” I ask.

“No, it’s just that…” a smile tugs on her lips, and she looks up at me with glittering eyes. So naive. So innocent and young. “If this is your house, why were you staying at the hotel?”

My mood darkens. “Because I was with my ex-wife when I bought this house. It’s filled with our old memories.”

“Oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t know that… But I suppose I should have…” Hannah stares down at the ground, embarrassed. “Is it hard for you to be here?”

Is she serious?

The answer is yes, and Hannah should know that!

being here?! It’s like asking someone if they cut their hair when you see them showing

that out. It would be admitting my heart is broken, and

my temper

your

is that she

much, why did

most importantly, do I look

intimidating, but then again, I rarely ask what other people think of me. Neither do I care.

to think of myself as

Her lips are trembling, and she avoids eye contact. “W-which room should

Is she serious?

sleeping in the

“Oh.”

She looks relieved.

“With me,” I add.

“Oh…”

like I’ve told her I’m going to take her out into the forest at night to murder her. Like, what the fuck? Is the thought

pumping.

to me ordering her around. Instead, she grabs my hand, shocking me beyond belief. I turn around, losing my train of

eyes narrow. “Why are you

my hand but doesn’t back down. Neither does my irritated tone

Irritated,

brighter than the goddamn sun. “Do you know what I do when I’m feeling

rain cloud? Is that an idiom? Who the fuck uses expressions when they talk? A clown? A therapist, or

darkly amused. “No, what do you do?”

filling her chest with air. “Count to three,” she is now slowly exhaling

them really, and that’s when

continues the motion as she speaks. “I’m not crazy. This is a proven method of letting go of your inner anger and moving on. I promise you this will help you deal with your pent-up stress and anger.” Her fingers are still moving. Actually, her whole body is. She looks like an excited

under my breath. “If I did that in front of the

joke about that! I have friends there, and some of them

“Of course, you have friends

you making fun

don’t smile or move a facial muscle, but I’m laughing on the

“You’re being mean…”

eyes in the dimly lit hallway. And just because I can, I take a step toward her with a growing

it. Her eyes are wide with fear, and her bottom lip is trembling. She looks as if I might punch her.

“You’re…

shake your fingers, you know, to calm down and all that,”

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