His Trouble Maker

Chapter 58

JESSICA

I only cried this hard during my father’s funeral. A sob escaped my lips but I continue to wash away Theo’s touch, scrubbing until my skin way row and bleeding in places. It wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough to erase what happened.

I’m so angry at myself. So fucking angry I could scream until my throat bleeds too, Why didn’t I see it coming? Why didn’t I fight Harder? The soap slips from my fingers, clattering against the shower floor as my knees finally give out. I slide down the wall, hot water mixing with hotter

tears.

”

“Stupid,” I whisper, digging my nails into my palms. “So goddamn stupid.”

Dad always said I had fighter’s instincts. “You’re a wolf, honey, not a rabbit,” he’d tell me. What would he say now? Seeing his daughter curled up, shivering, trying to scrub away shame instead of fighting back?

Why couldn’t I have been that brave? That quick? That strong?

A laugh bubbles up–bitter, hollow–mixing with my tears. I slam the water off and wrap myself in a towel, not caring that water still drips down my legs onto the floor. Everything hurts–inside, outside. My mind races like a trapped animal, replaying every second, every mistake.

My phone buzzes on the counter. Three missed calls. All from Grayson.

I throw on the first clothes I find–an old tank top and sweatpants–and dive into my bed, burying myself under the comforter. The darkness feels good. Safe. The only place I can hide from what happened, from what I let happen.

Suddenly, the door creaks open and I instantly knew who it was because I smell his cologne.

Grayson.

I curl tighter, pulling the sheets over my head, making myself as small as possible. I can’t let him see me like this. He’ll know. One look and he’ll know something happened, and then-

trying to search for mine. “Where were you today?

don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t even

his warmth through the blanket–it should be comforting, but right

sensation I can’t handle.

to me,” he whispers, gently tugging the

My voice

he probably thinks is my shoulder but is actually my

is soft, concerned.

that protective worry that makes my chest ache. They scan my face, lingering

mutter, trying to look anywhere but at him.

my forehead. The tender gesture makes my eyes

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Chapter 58

observes. “You’re taking hot showers when

to my forehead like he’s checking

move to my

against his chest–not hard, just

I see confusion, then hurt, then

something happen?” he asks,

too quickly, scrambling to sit up. The blanket falls away and I see his eyes catch on my arms–on the red marks from scrubbing too hard. I pull them under

just in a mood, okay? Nothing happened.” I force a laugh that sounds hollow even to my

“Sure. But most girls don’t look like they’ve been crying

for annoyed instead of terrified. “Maybe

says, a small smile tugging at his lips. He reaches for my hand under the blanket. I let him take

traces circles on my palm, and he leans in again, pressing a soft kiss to my

Almost let the walls come crashing

can’t. Not