Following Me by Linde, K.A. (best books to read in your 20s .txt) 📗

The words hung out between them. She didn’t want Garrett to know where she was going.  She didn’t want anyone toknow where she was.  She couldn’t risk Reid finding out.

“It doesn’t matter.  I don’t feelsafe.  I need to hole up somewhere,” she said.

“So…you’re going to go seeBrennan?” Garrett asked cautiously.

Devon closed her eyes and tiltedback her head.  Brennan.  No, Garrett couldn’t know that was where shewas going.

“No, I’m not going to seeBrennan.  He’s not happy with me right now.  Don’t blame him.  I’ll findsomewhere else.”

“Devon, I don’t like this,”Garrett said.

“Well, I don’t like thepossibility of getting hit again,” she said with a finality to the statement.

“I…don’t blame you.  I’m sosorry, Devon.  I didn’t know.  I would have never let you leave if I knew,” herambled on with his apology.

Devon shook her head, trying tounderstand his words.  The adrenaline from her confrontation with Reid waswearing off, and she felt herself slipping toward unconsciousness.  The starswere coming back, and her head was pounding.  Her cheek had gone numb, and theblood had stopped, but she didn’t think feeling numb was a good thing. Numbness meant severe pain later.  Her eye was swelling, and she wondered if itwould seal shut.

“What are you talking about,Garrett?  I’m not feeling that well,” she whispered.  Her voice was slipping.  Thiswasn’t good.

“Devon, I’m so sorry.  I know youhave no right to forgive me.  I don’t expect you to.  I wouldn’t forgive me,”he said.

“Garrett, I’m over the kiss.  Itdoesn’t even matter anymore,” Devon said softly.

“Not the kiss, Dev,” he said. “More than that—”

“Whatever you’re talking about,it doesn’t matter.  I’m alive.  That’s what matters.”

Garrett sighed on the otherline.  “It’s not all that matters.  It’s the most important thing, but it’s myfault that it’s even a consideration.”

Devon sat up slowly and tried topiece together what he was trying to tell her.  Something more than thekiss.  Something that mattered besides her being alive.  Something that was hisfault.  Her heart sank.

“What are you trying to say,Garrett?” she asked, the fear of his answer creeping into her voice.

“I’m so sorry, Devon.  I was theone who answered your phone when Reid called.”

Devon felt all the air whoosh outof her lungs at once.  Garrett had been the one who had talked to Reid. That was how Reid had gotten to her so fast.  She hadn’t gotten a chance to askhim, and likely, he would have lied anyway.  It just didn’t make sense.  Whywould Garrett do that?

“I know.  I’m sorry, Dev.”

He sounded miserable, but he knewnothing of misery compared to her.

“I was trying to protect you.  Iwas trying to get him to leave you alone.  I never expected him to show up.”

Maybe Garrett had been trying toprotect her.  Maybe he had answered to tell Reid to fuck off.  Maybe he hadn’texpected Reid to show up, and if that were the case, he certainly wouldn’t haveexpected Reid to hit her.  Maybe those things were true, but it was stillinexcusable.  Garrett was the only one who had known the whole story.  He wasthe only one who knew what it meant to keep it all a secret.

“Devon?  Are you still there?”Garrett asked into the phone.

“Yes.  Just keep Hadley safe. Don’t let Reid inside.  No matter what he says, don’t let him in,” Devon said,sticking to business.  She didn’t know what Reid would do, and right now, thatwas more important than dealing with Garrett.

“Devon—”

“Do you not understand that he’sdangerous?” she asked gruffly into the phone.  “Stop with the self-pity for onesecond, and tell me that you will do what I told you.  I don’t want anyone elseto get hurt.”

“I understand,” he said, herharsh words clearly sobering him up.

Devon hungup.  That was all the confirmation she needed.  As long as Hadley was alright,then Devon just needed to worry about herself.  She couldn’t think aboutGarrett right now.  That anger would make her boil over.  The only benefit fromhis words was that it shocked her system, keeping her awake long enough toreach her destination.

THE CAB PULLED over, and she paidthe bill.  She didn’t feel too bad as long as she didn’t touch her face.  Sheknew this was nothing compared to how she would feel tomorrow.  Her head waspounding, and that was the worst part.  She just wanted her headache to goaway.  She hoped it didn’t last that long.

Devon stood before the door witha sigh.  She reached her hand up to knock, but then she dropped it back downagain.  There wasn’t anywhere else for her to go or anywhere else she wanted tobe.  Still, she felt terrible.  Her injuries went far beyond the physical.  Shehoped, with time, she could rectify everything in her life.  Time was all shehad to offer.  She didn’t know if it would be enough.

Reaching out for the source ofcourage that had pushed her to this point, Devon knocked on the door.  A shortwhile later, the door swung inward, and Brennan stood before her, shirtless. She sucked in a deep breath.  He looked gorgeous.  He was a bit of a wreck withtangled hair and rumpled shorts, but it worked for him.  Everything seemed towork for him.

“Devon,” he said softly, hismouth falling open at the sight of her.  His eyes grew wider and wider as hetook in her swollen eye and the blood that had fallen on her dress.  “Whathappened to you?”

He looked shocked, and she didn’tblame him.

“Can I come in?”  She looked overher shoulder. She was worried that Reid had somehow been able to find out whereshe was.

She waited for Brennan to saysomething, but he didn’t.  He just stared at her.  Then, when she opened hermouth to say something else, he moved forward and pulled her into him.  Shewrapped her arms around his neck, and his arms encircled her waist, holding hertightly.  He breathed her in as she tried to hold back the tears.  Just beingheld had never felt this good.

He pulled back and found herlips.  He kissed her with a desperation that bordered on delirium.  Shereturned his eager kisses and backed him into the apartment.  She wanted this. She wanted him.  He was the only thing that had kept her going through theentire ordeal with Reid.  Thinking about Brennan