Gambling Love

10. Jaiden

I may have gone over some city limits as I rushed to New York but when Imogen finally called me, I knew I didn't care about the tickets I'd receive. She's crying to me over the phone and I look up at the elevator floor numbers, glaring at it, this damn elevator couldn't possibly go any slower "sweetheart please don't cry, it's breaking my heart," I squeeze my eyes shut. It's one thing for her to have an anxiety attack right in front of me but it's another to hear it, and I think hearing it is so much worse. Finally, the elevator dings and I'm already pushing my way through before it even opens, I ignore the gorgeous penthouse layout as my eyes land on Imogen, she's quick to look over her shoulder and stand up, obviously scared. I hang up our phone call and she comes running towards me.

I'm able to pocket my phone before she jumps into my arms, I hold her and wrap her legs around me. Her sobs shuddered into my body and possibly my soul and I just held her as she gripped me like a lifeline, she's shivering as I walk towards the couch and sit down.

She's not wearing a dress so I assume she'd changed out and her face is bare of makeup and the only jewelry left on her is the necklace I gave her for Christmas. I pull back and cradle her head in my hands "shhh baby," I say softly pulling our foreheads together. She's sobbing and gasping for air and it's breaking my heart.

I don't know how long it takes her breathing to even out but the penthouse is silent once she's run out of tears, her hands are shaking as she traces my jaw and tugs on my hair "I'm sorry," she stutters.

"No, don't say sorry around me. It wasn't your fault."

"You drove three hours on Christmas Eve," she hiccups.

"And I'd drive thirteen, hell even thirty hours to wherever you are if you needed me, I'm here," I say firmly and she nods.

"Thank you," she gratefully before curling her body back into mine. I'm pissed off that her mom even convinced her to come to New York and the fact Imogen thought of the worse actually happened, I'm also pissed off that once the sisters were done talking to the police, her mom was forcing them back to the party. That's when Imogen called me.

"I want to leave, please let's leave," she's begging now as she pulls away from me. Tears are in her eyes again "please take me home."

That's when I move, I'm standing up, placing her on the floor as she shows me to her room. I grab all her things and we're heading back to my jeep, she's quiet as I exit the city and I glance at her as we leave and she looks like she can finally breathe. "I'm sorry, I know you were with Maverick's family," she says.

"Sweetheart, it's fine," I tell her glancing at her. "I can drive you to Gen's?" I ask her.

"No," she mumbles shaking her head before looking at me.

"Baby please don't look like that, it's breaking my heart," I pout and she smiles. I watch her shift in her seat and I swing an arm around her shoulders and pull her upper body across the console, she lays her head on my shoulder. I unwrap my arm from her shoulders and she threads her fingers through mine, she falls asleep immediately and it's probably so uncomfortable but it doesn't matter to her.

I'm pulling up to the house, it's just past twelve now and it's snowing, a Christmas miracle I guess. Imogen wakes up a few seconds after I'm shaking her gently. I guide her to my bedroom before going back out to grab our shit.

"Want any water?" I ask coming back into the room, she's sitting on my bed. I walk over and crouch down in front of her. She shakes her head and presses her hand to her forehead, my hands are reaching up and running down her thighs. She sighs and drops her hand to my shoulder. Despite her tired expression, she looks absolutely beautiful. I cup the back of her neck, squeezing it gently.