“You’re angry at me.”

He looks away, jaw tight.

“Tyke . . .”

He says nothing.

“If you’re angry, at least tell me,” I whisper-yell.

He flinches and turns to me. “Yeah, Pippa, I am angry at you. I’m angry because I couldn’t find you. I’m angry because you hung up on me and turned your phone off, and I was fucking beside myself with concern.”

Oh.

I didn’t realize.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” He laughs. “You’re sorry?”

“Yes, Tyke,” I say, my voice a little stronger, but still horribly weak. “I’m sorry.”

“Why did you hang up on me?”

I look away.

“Answer me!” he barks and I flinch.

“I felt uncomfortable.”

“I knew it,” he mutters. “So you turn it off and don’t answer me? Fuck, Pippa, I was so fucking worried when an entire day went past and you didn’t contact me.”

“I’m not a child,” I say carefully.

His eyes flare, and his mouth forms a straight line.

“No?” he whispers finally. “Then why did you act like one, instead of contacting me?”

I narrow my eyes, confused. “I don’t . . . I didn’t realize you wanted me to. I don’t understand why you’re so angry at me not returning a call.”

“Because he put his fucking hands on you,” he roars so loudly I stumble backwards.

My mouth drops open and tears spring to life in my eyes and pour down my cheeks.

“Because I didn’t know where you were, and that motherfucker put his hands on you. God dammit!”

He spins around and drives a fist into the pole behind him. I gasp and press a hand to my throat, struggling for breath.

Then I turn and run inside.

“Pippa!” he calls out.

But he can’t catch me.

I run past Santana and Maddox, and into the guest bedroom. I lock the door and throw myself down onto the bed, pressing my hands over my ears as the yelling travels up to me.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Tyke?” Maddox barks. “She’s fucked up and you go ahead and make it worse.”

Fucked up. Fucked up.

“I didn’t . . . give me the key to her room. Let me tell her I didn’t fuckin’ mean it.”

“Like hell,” Santana yells. “Do you even see her, Tyke? She’s broken, she’s damaged, and you scream at her for it.”

Broken.

Damaged.

I press a pillow over my head and an agonized sob rips from my throat.

Fucking freak.

~*~*~*~

NOW – Pippa

Sleep doesn’t come, even when the house goes quiet, even when the lights are flicked out. It doesn’t come, no matter how hard I will it to. I want peace, I want freedom, but not even sleep offers me such comforts anymore. I lie on my bed, my face coated with dried tears, my head pounding from the emotion I’ve expressed in the past day.

The door rattles and I turn my face towards it. A minute later, it opens and Tyke steps in. He’s limping badly, but he makes his way to my bed quietly. I can see him in the moonlight, and the flash over his face shows me just how upset he is. When he reaches the end of the bed, he kicks off his boots with a groan of pain, then he undoes his shirt, revealing a massive chest.

I’ve seen Tyke shirtless, and I’ve always loved the intricate tattoos marking his beautiful skin. His muscles are perfect—not too big, not too small, just the perfect blend of sculpted male. He pulls the sheets back and I shift, letting him know I’m awake. He slides in beside me, and his big arms pull me in close. The moment his hot skin touches mine, I close my eyes.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he rasps in the darkness. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

I swallow and turn so we’re facing. I reach over and touch his face. “I know.”

“I didn’t mean to yell at you. I was scared, little one. So fucking scared when I got that call.”

I keep my hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

He pulls me close, until our foreheads are touching.

“I don’t say it, Pip, because I don’t know how, but I need you to know something.”

I don’t say anything, but my heart starts pounding.

“I need you to know that you’re the only person in this world I’ve ever wanted to understand. I need you to know that you’re the only person in this world who has ever gotten me. But mostly, I need you to know that you’re one of the most important things in the world to me. I fucking adore you, I don’t ever want to lose you. There’s a big piece of my heart that belongs to you, little one.”

I open my mouth, but only a strangled sound comes out. Tyke pulls me closer, tucking me so tightly against him that my cheek is pressed against his chest. I don’t know what his words mean to me. I don’t know how to take them. Does he want more? Does he mean he adores me like a sister? I don’t know, and I’m too afraid to ask, terrified of what the answer might be.

“I feel the same,” I whisper.

“Then you’ll forgive me for being a fuckin’ dick?”

I smile against his chest. “I will. I always will.”

“That’s my girl. Now sleep.”

“Tyke?”

“Hmmm?”