Lovers of Yesterday

Chapter 26 • Stay

I groaned as I woke up. A thin stream of light was peeking through the curtains and it was enough to wake me up. Arms were wrapped around me and holding my head in place. My eyebrows furrowed as my eyes fluttered open when I realized I was feeling Lynch's rough hand on my waist instead of the fabric of the jacket.

When I looked down I saw that his jacket was, in fact, gone. Shit, I forgot to mention that I sometimes strip out of my clothes if I get too warm. It's something I've done since I was a child only now, it's much more embarrassing.

I couldn't move to find the jacket anyway. He had me pinned down on his chest. I was red hot with embarrassment. A light sheen of sweat was forming on my skin. I wasn't supposed to be hanging out with Lynch like this. This is cheating. I'm cheating on Liam.

Oddly enough, I didn't feel bad about it. I actually felt happy that this was happening. Someone was showing me a form of affection. I felt greedy. I wanted to have this type of relationship.

Lynch made a noise in the back of his throat as he shifted. His hand rubbed up and down from my ribcage to my waist. I relaxed into his touch. I had a feeling he knew I was already up.

"I need to find your jacket. I think I stripped out of it last night." I mumbled.

He didn't say anything but moved his hand so his fingers could trace my spine.

"Lynch?"

"Don't let reality take you away from me," he murmured. "Let me hold you a little longer."

My cheeks flamed. "Lynch... I won't go anywhere. I feel safe with you."

"I already know what's playing through your mind. You're still technically in a relationship with Liam and this is cheating."

I didn't know what to say because he hit the nail on the head. "I would hope it's pretty obvious but I care for you, Ryder. I don't want to see you hurt."

I couldn't say anything. I was shell-shocked at what he was saying. Despite knowing I was cheating, I wanted to hold on to this moment with Lynch. I wanted to stay here, warm and safe. In the back of my head, the fearful part of me was saying I was going to regret this. The other half- the half that was dopamine induced- was content with staying here and not worrying about my problems.

"Ok," I whispered. "I'll stay."

So we stayed there for another hour. He continued to trace shapes on my skin. I was still self conscious that I was half-naked without anything separating us but I wasn't worried he would take advantage of it. The hand in my hair would occasionally scratch my scalp, pushing me back toward sleep.

When we finally moved to get up, Lynch helped wrap a blanket around me until we could find the jacket. It ended up being shoved to the side of the bed against the wall. He shut his eyes and turned his back while I quickly slid the jacket back on. We had an hour to eat and get ready to head to work.

Lynch promised to take me by my apartment after work so I would have more clothes. He made pancakes to go with our coffee. Then I headed to change into my uniform. Walking out of the bathroom, I set the folded pile of clothes on his bed.

Lynch was dressed when I walked out to the living room. He looked up at me before standing up and tucking his phone in his pocket. Instead of walking to the door, he approached me.

He reached up and his thumb brushed over my cheek. I had forgotten to cover the bruise with concealer. I pulled back, intending to go find the tube and apply some. Lynch's hand on my bicep stopped me.

He pulled me back so I was standing in front of him again. "Don't hide it. Don't hide the bruise on your neck either. Don't let fear control you. That's how you let him get the upper hand."

"Why do you know this?" I blurted out the question before I could stop myself.

He didn't seem offended and began walking to the door while explaining. "My mother was abused. Her dad. She had me when she was young and he didn't approve. My dad tried to help but she wouldn't listen. She died almost seventeen years ago. A tumor in her brain that no one saw."

He held the door open for me. I didn't walk out. I reached for him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He reacted in kind, pulling me closer in a hug. I felt him press his face into my hair.

"I wasn't able to help her. But I want to help you. I'm not going to let you suffer at his hands." His words were slightly muffled.

We only pulled away when we realized the time. We rushed to work and kept ourselves busy throughout the day. The only difference was that I noticed him sneaking more glances at me.

• • •

We headed back to my apartment to pick up what I needed. There's been nothing from Liam since yesterday. I told myself I had nothing to worry about right now. I was apprehensive when we walked up to my apartment and I unlocked the door. I almost expected to see Liam sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand.

I didn't see him but I did see my coffee table and TV. The back cushions on the couch were missing as well. Lynch stepped in behind me and I knew what he was seeing.

"Come on, Ry. Let's go grab your stuff." He ignored my living room and slipped past me.

I followed and took over leading him back to my room. I turned the light one as I stepped in and flooded the room with light. I set about grabbing the bag I already had out. I packed my laptop , charging cables, and underwear in the bookbag.

I dug around in my closet, finding a small suitcase. Lugging it over to my dresser, I began moving jeans over to the suitcase. When I had a weeks' worth of jeans, I moved up to shirts and pulled out five short sleeve shirts and five long sleeve. I found a weeks' work of socks and tossed them in as well. I sat back on my feet, feeling I had all the clothes I needed.

"You need another pair of shoes?" I looked behind me to see Lynch staring at me.

I looked away and down at the shoes I had on. "Um, I'll be ok with these. They're really the only pair I wear."

"Alright. You need any of these blankets? Or a pillow?" He gestured to the aforementioned items.

I slowly shook my head, staring past him at my bed. He frowned and stood up. Rounding the side of it, he grabbed my weighted blanket and a pillow. He brought them over to me and I took them. Dropping the pillow, I stood up and folded the blanket so it'd fit in the suitcase.

"Any books or anything?"

I huffed and looked at him. "I thought I was only staying for a few days. I don't need all that for that short amount of time."

He hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets, holding my eyes. "I don't want this to sound controlling but, Ry, I don't think it'll be safe for a while. I want you to stay with me for at least a week. Somethin' in my gut is telling me that he's intent on carrying out his threat. I don't want to put your life at risk just because we think it'll be over in a few days."

I pulled my lip into my mouth and bit down. Of course Lynch is being reasonable about this. I shouldn't have thought otherwise. Part of me knows he doesn't want to risk anything happening but the other part is telling me to stay far away from him. It must be the part that is hooked on Liam's every word and fears him.

It was never love. It was only fear.