Say You’ll Stay

Chapter 7 – Vasey

Chapter Seven

VASEY

C oming here was a mistake. My desperation has put me back in West’s hands, but it’s not how I ever pictured it. His hand holds my wrist tightly, not letting me go. I knew I wasn’t going to win the battle of calling a cab.

I should've known better. It’s the reason he now has me by the wrist, leading me out of his office. The headmaster lady watches us walk by over the brim of her glasses. She still has that annoyed expression on her face. I know it’s pointless to even try to break free.

“Mr. Evers.” She tries to snag his attention.

“Handle it.” West doesn’t spare her a glance. One of his fingers drifts back and forth, stroking the inside of my wrist. My thoughts and emotions are already all over the place, his touch isn’t helping. I’m still trying to process some of the things he’d said to me.

“But there—” She tries again.

“I don’t care,” he snaps with a finality that makes even my spine stand up straighter. The woman's brows shoot up. It’s not until we enter a garage bay with a line of fancy vehicles that he releases his hold on me. “In,” West orders, holding open the door to a fancy SUV.

“West—” I try to talk some sense into him.

“Get in, or I’ll put you in.” I glare at him, but his expression is unwavering, giving nothing away.

When he moves to grab me by the hips, I quickly get in before he can. I don’t think I could handle his hands on my body right now. I’m already a mess inside.

“Where to?” he asks as he leaves the bay.

I bet all those fancy cars belong to him. West really did make it. It was a struggle for me to finish college. I was always trying to find grants and loans to help pay for it while still keeping a roof over my head.

“The museum on Lincoln.” I pull out and check my phone again.

I should have told him to go to the bakery down the street from the museum, damn it. Now he’s going to drop me off right out front. Everyone will see, including Jasmine. I was hoping to somehow maneuver my way out of this before then. But I can’t think straight with him so close to me. I need to get it together.

“Don’t get any ideas. We’ll pick the kid up, and I’ll take you where you need to go.” I forgot how well he knows me. Or used to anyway.

“Her name is Jasmine.” I say it defensively.

“Jasmine,” he repeats, glancing my way, and he offers me a half smile. A dimple appears on his right cheek.

A familiar flutter that only he could give me returns. I have always loved his dimples. Every time I’d kiss his cheek, I made sure it was on one of them. Then West started to turn his head whenever I did so that our lips would brush, until he finally kissed me on my fifteenth birthday. It was the most special birthday I’ve ever had.

“You’re protective of her.”

“I adore her.”

“You always wanted to be a mom.” I know he’s not trying to be insensitive, but his words strike a chord in me. I have always wanted to be a mom. I had planned for it to be of his children, but that didn’t work out for me. I might not have loved the foster care homes, but I did love all the children together. It was why I wanted to teach.

“She’s not mine.” I wish. Then I could take her. I could really protect her then. Or maybe not. Mr. Ware is a very rich man.

“Is that what you want?”

“What?” He can’t mean what I think he does.

“For her to be yours?”

“I want her to be safe and happy.” To not be terrorized. No little girl should have to live that way. I don’t understand Gideon’s need to torment her. Then again, do we ever know why crazy people do the things they do?

“What is that?” West asks when the SUV rolls to a stop at the light. He grips my chin between his thumb and index finger to tilt my head to the side.

“What?”

“A small bruise.” I pull back from his hold to flip down the sun visor to get a look in the mirror for myself. There is a small bruise from when Roberta struck me. It must have started to form only now.

“I don’t know.” I flip the visor back into place. There is no way I’m going to admit to West how I acquired the bruise in question.

“You’re starting to piss me off with the lying.”

“Well, you’re just pissing me off in general!” I throw my hands up. “It’s a stupid bruise. It doesn’t matter.”

“It fucking matters,” he bites out. “Was it Thomas?”

I jerk around at his question. “You really have dug into my life.” I shake my head, fighting the sting of tears.

“Was it him?”

“No.” That one I can answer honestly. “Such bullshit,” I mutter.

“Sweetness.” West’s hand comes down on my thigh.

“No, West!” I break. I’m so mad about the fucked-up shit I’m dealing with at the Ware’s and now this. “It’s clear you have known where I’ve been for a while, Mr. I bought you a school and I also know where you live and what you’re up to . It’s all bullshit!” I shout the last words. “Then, where have you been? Why did you leave me? Do you not know how to call or even send a text?”

“It’s not?—”

“I don’t give a shit what it’s like, Weston.” I use his full name, knowing it will hit the bullseye and piss him off. “You couldn’t have missed me that much.” I jerk off my seat belt as we pull up to the museum. “Just forget about me like the rest of the world.” I try to open the door, but it won’t. “Unlock it.”

“No.”

“I swear to God if you don’t—” I’m cut off when West’s hand cups the back of my neck, pulling me toward him.

“You might have liked me, loved me, but I fucking love you, Vasey,” he grits out before he takes my mouth in a hard kiss.