His to Love (His #3)

Chapter 23

I leave straight after our sex session. I don't even give him my number. I make it easier for him, so he doesn't have to throw me out and deal with this. I just pick up my clothes and leave. 

Aaron gave me a woman's shirt to replace the blouse he ripped. He said it's his sister's. It'd work until I got home.

I was afraid how would my drive home go. I was afraid to be alone with my thoughts, but when I'm almost at my flat, I realise it's not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm not regretting it. In fact, I'm in a bit better mood, even singing along with the songs on the radio. 

With Aaron, I proved myself that I can still feel something for other men, even though it's only lust. Damien didn't take that away from me. And that's something I can be happy about.

WhenI get into the flat, whistling to myself, I call out a loud "Hello." I get no response and I walk into the living room only to find Rory sleeping on the couch. But it seems like I woke her up because she slowly sits up on the couch.

I frown when I look at her face. It looks like she's been crying. 

''I must look really bad, judging by your expression, huh?'' she tries to joke, but her voice is small and raspy from the sleeping.

"Are you sick?" I ask her.

"Nope. I'm perfectly fine." She places a big, fake smile on her face. She doesn't fool me with it.

"You were crying," I say softly as a statement.

"I just had a bad day, it's nothing important, really. I'll be getting my period soon so I have some mood swings." Rory laughs and I don't quite believe that's the only reason, but I don't pressure her into giving me answers. 

I give her a smile that's a little wary. "I'm sorry to hear that. If you need a friend, I'm here for you. You know that, right?" My words seem to bring tears into her eyes and I know something must have happened. And I've got a great suspicion my brother is playing a big role in this. He's been calling me non-stop, asking me about her. But he didn't show up - not even once. 

She nods and a tear falls down her cheek. Rory bites her lip, trying hard not to start crying right in front of me.

"Oh, Rory," I say and come closer to give her a hug. And she breaks down in front of me, crying into my shoulder and gripping my shirt. I don't ask her about what happened, I only give her comfort. If she wants to talk about it, she will. I'm not forcing her.

"I think I'll go take a bath now," she says to me, pleading me with her eyes to understand her.

I nod at her. "Of course." I brush her hair with my hand, placing a small smile on my lips.

Rory stands up and goes straight to her room where minutes later, a sad piano music blasts loudly through the speakers.

Braden calls me again and I have to roll my eyes. "Holy shit, stop bothering me already. If you want to know how she is, call her. Or, did you lose her number maybe? In that case, I have a better solution for you; go and see her before she sets her eyes on someone else!''

"Has she set her eyes on someone else?"

I grunt. "She's going to. She probably already forgot how your face looks like, seeing that she hasn't seen you in days. You're an asshole for that, by the way."

"I won't correct you. But is she alright? I need to know, Brooke."

I scoff, completely done with his shit. ''Ask her yourself. Why in the ever loving God are you ignoring her and then calling me all the time, asking me about her? It makes no sense, Braden. Get your shit together already and stop playing her.''