The Vincent Boys 02 - The Vincent Brothers

wounded. Ashton had understood and she’d reached down and held my hand as I slid in beside her. It had been a quiet trip.
    We were at the closest affordable hotel and the guys were getting our rooms. I wasn’t sure if I was sharing a room with Sawyer or if I was expected to get my own. I had enough to get my own if I needed to. No reason to save up for my college dreams. My dad had shot that hope down.
    Sitting in the lobby of the hotel, I waited with the other girls. I was still dirty from our day outdoors and I wanted a shower. Not to mention I was exhausted physically and emotionally.
    Sawyer walked toward me with his backpack and mine slung over his shoulders. “You need to get anything out of that duffle bag you and Ash are sharing?”
    “Um... yeah. I guess. Are we sharing a room?”
    Sawyer looked concerned as he closed the short distance between us. “I thought we were okay. You didn’t sit beside me but I figured you wanted to check on Ash.”
    “That’s fine. I was just wondering. I can get my own room if needed.”
    Sawyer reached out and slipped his hand in mine. I let him thread his fingers through mine. “I want you with me.”
    I nodded and forced a smile. He bent down and kissed me on the forehead. “I’m going to fix this. I promise you. You’ll trust me again,” he whispered before straightening back up and leading me toward the elevator.

    We all managed to get rooms on the same floor. Sawyer slipped the key card into the door to room 314 and opened it up. He held out his hand for me to enter first. The room was roomier than most hotels I’d stayed at but then he’d been determined that we were staying at the Marriott instead of the mom and pop motel across the street. A king sized bed sat in the center of everything.
    “One bed,” I said, glancing back at him.
    “They didn’t have any doubles available. Is this okay?”
    “Sure,” I replied and reached for my backpack still on his shoulder. “Can I take a shower first?”
    He slid it down his arm and handed it to me. “Of course. Take your time. I’ll order us some dinner.”
    “Okay, thank you.”
    I turned to walk into the bathroom.
    “Lana?” His voice sounded sad. I hated making him sad but I didn’t have the energy to do anything about it. I was drained.
    “Yes?” I asked and turned to look back at him. He reminded me of a lost little boy. His perfect face was troubled.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “For what?”
    “Being an idiot,” he replied.
    “I’ve already forgiven you, Sawyer.”
    He looked defeated. “Have you really?”
    “My forgiving you doesn’t make my heart hurt less. It takes awhile to heal.”
    I didn’t wait for his response. I closed the door behind me and turned on the shower.

Chapter Eighteen

    Sunlight poured in through the window and an arm held me tightly while a leg had me pinned to the bed. Sawyer had snuggled up against my back at some point last night. I’d eaten the cheeseburger he’d ordered me and a few bites of chocolate cake before curling up as far away from his side of the bed as possible and falling asleep instantly. I was still on my side but Sawyer was pressed up against me. He was holding onto me like some sort of lifeline.
    I reached up to move his arm so I could get up and go use the bathroom.
    “Don’t. Please, just let me hold you a little bit longer,” he mumbled into my hair.
    “You’re awake,” I replied
    “Mmmmhmmm and I’m enjoying myself. Please, just a little bit longer.”
    I smiled for the first time since the Ashton incident.
    “You can still enjoy yourself without me,” I teased.
    He froze for a second before snuggling even closer to me and moving his hand so that his palm covered my bare stomach where my tank top had inched up in my sleep.
    “I can’t enjoy it without you. You’re what I’m enjoying,” he whispered in a deep sleepy voice as he took a small nip at my earlobe.
    “Ah,” I squealed and he chuckled, sending chill bumps over my arms from the warmth of his breath tickling my ear and neck.
    “I missed you so much,” he replied in a more serious tone.
    I didn’t need to point out I’d been with him for three days. I knew what he meant. Mentally and emotionally, I’d been checked out yesterday. My chest didn’t ache this morning and I could breathe deeply again. Maybe it was the fact Sawyer’s big arms were wrapped around me giving me a false sense of safety.
    “Can I go to the restroom, please?” I asked, tickling his arm