Hoss’s Limits (House of Lustz #2)

Cady Chapter 18

It had been a week since the break-in. Max was taken care of and was sitting in jail. He was smart enough to plead guilty. You’d think that meant Hoss and I were happy. We weren’t. The reason was Hoss had gone silent on me. I thought after Detective Saller left, I’d get yelled at, and he’d punish me. Wrong. He said we needed to get some sleep and went to the bedroom. In bed, he didn’t hold me or make any attempt to talk or initiate sex. I thought he’d be over it by morning, and we’d talk. He just needed to calm down. Wrong again.

The silent treatment and not touching me intimately continued. He wasn’t even kissing me. I tried to get him to talk about it and to punish me, no matter how bad it was, but he would give me a disinterested look and go on with whatever he was doing.

He returned to work at Lustz Friday night, but I was left with a guard on the property. I had no idea who he was or where he came from. He just appeared and stayed out there all night. Suffice it to say the weekend passed uncomfortably. I was glad to go to work on Monday. I needed the break. However, going back to his place at the end of the workday, I discovered he was working late in his home office. He came to bed after I was asleep. This has happened every night since. He was still not speaking to me except for the barest amount needed. He was working sixteen-hour days. He ignored all attempts to discuss what happened.

Well, I’d had enough. If he thought he’d push me away and ignore me for days on end, then he was wrong. If he didn’t want to be near me, and it was obvious from his actions that he didn’t, then I wouldn’t foist myself on him. I was in familiar territory.

We’d been driving separately to work this week. This morning, he left before I did. Again, there was no goodbye kiss. As soon as he was gone, I got to work. I packed up the stuff I’d brought to his house—it was more than I knew. I put it in my trunk and then headed to work like usual. The day crawled by despite having a busy day. I thought it would never end. When it was three o’clock, I ushered the staff out and almost ran out of the clinic. We had no more appointments.

I got in my car, started it, and began driving. Only it wasn’t toward Belle Meade. I headed out of town. I went south on I-65. I knew if I went to my apartment, he’d find me like last time. He might not want me, but I could see him insisting that in order to be safe, I had to return to his place. He’d be thinking of Tajah. It wasn’t happening. There were no more break-in attempts at the clinic, and Flint hadn’t shown his face in weeks. This time, I’d be somewhere I couldn’t be found.

I wasn’t able to handle any more of this. I knew these signs. I’d been treated to them several times in the past. He no longer wanted me. I was too much hassle. The guys who didn’t leave in a rage had frozen me out until I left them. I’d be given the silent treatment, and all intimacy or even affection had disappeared between us. It was a familiar scene.

I fought to hold in the tears that threatened to fall. My chest hurt. It felt like my heart was breaking. As I continued to drive, I placed a call. I didn’t want her to worry, so I had to tell her my plan. Tajah answered me quickly.

“Hey, Cady, I was just thinking about you. I need to see your face, girl. You and Hoss should come over for dinner this weekend,” she chatted happily.

“Taj, I can’t.” I tried to keep the pain I was feeling out of my tone, but I guess I wasn’t successful. I wanted to come across as unconcerned about the break-up.

“What’s wrong? Are you crying?” she asked with concern. I could lie, but it was too much effort, so I told her the truth. She wouldn’t buy me taking a short trip without Hoss anyway.

“I’m not crying. I can’t come for dinner, and if I could, it sure wouldn’t be with Hoss.”

“What did he do?”

“What do you think? He’s just like the others. Unable to handle me. Sure, he’s not the physical type, but he’s made sure I know that he’s no longer interested in me or my shit behavior. Why can’t I be different, Tajah? Why can’t I find someone and be happy? I need to face it. I’m destined to be alone for the rest of my life. I’m done trying. No more men. Ever.”

“What the hell?” she uttered.

“I called to let you know that I’ve got to get out of town for a few days. I didn’t want you to worry. I’ll be fine. Don’t panic if I don’t answer your calls right away. I’ll have my phone off. I need peace. Clearing my head is in order. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”

“Cady, no, don’t leave. Come here. You can stay with us,” she pleaded.

“I can’t. It’ll put you and Mikhail in the middle, and I won’t do that to the two of you. Hoss is Mikhail’s friend and employee. That wouldn’t be fair. I’ll be okay. I’m a big girl, and I’ve been here before. Just give me time to get my head on straight, and I’ll be back. We can do a girls’ day out somewhere. Love you.”

“I love you too, but I can’t believe that Hoss is done with you, Cady. He’s crazy for you.”

“He was, but no more. He won’t touch me, kiss me, or even talk. We might as well be roommates and barely friendly ones at that. It’s been a week, Taj. It’s time to accept the inevitable and get on with my life. It’s not as if I haven’t been here before. Listen, I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.”

“Cady—” I cut her off.

I couldn’t continue to belabor it. The tears had escaped and were running down my face. I swiped at them to clear my eyes so I could see the road. The last thing I needed was to have an accident because I was mooning over a man. Seeing the sign for I-840 East, I took it. I knew it would lead to I-40. It had been a while since I’d been to East Tennessee. There were countless places to stay out there, especially in the Gatlinburg area. I’d get a hotel or something for a while. Fresh air and the mountains would help. I hoped.