Can't Let You Go

Chapter 60

***LIAM***

Agonizing over both Tally and Emily left me weary to my bones, but I cannot sleep. Tally is right where I need her now, lying close, with her head on my chest, but I fear the troubles Emily brings are far from over.

Years ago when I'd accepted the reality of our breakup, I thought I'd closed that door entirely, but it turns out that my heart hasn't hardened to her. Recognizing that, she uses it to her advantage when the opportunity arises and fate keeps giving her plenty.

Doing everything to play the part of a dutiful caregiver except actually participating in my care, Emily wouldn't leave my side when I was awake at the hospital. She remained there 24/7 continuing to wear my old tee shirt, without a bra, trying every trick and excuse she could think of to get in bed with me.

Denying her that was all the distance I could put between us until I finally agreed to strike a kiss bargain, putting my resolve in danger. The crux is that if I didn't have Tally to consider, I probably would have given in weeks ago just to satisfy the lust Emily stirs up.

Stretching her arm across my stomach as though reminding me what's important, Tally is the person I choose to keep in my life. Selfishly, more than just having her close, what I really need is to reconnect with her sexually.

**********

"What's your address?" Zayan asks as we get near the city. It's one of the few things he's said to me all day even though I've spent seven hours on the road in the front passenger seat.

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'why' we're taking you home, silly," Tally answers, "and I'm going to stay with you. You don't get to tell me 'no' this time."

"That's not fair to you," I protest.

"Ahem," she pretends to clear her throat, "I'll decide what's fair to me," she says with a deep voice that's supposed to be imitating me.

"No, this goes back to why I didn't want you to see me in the hospital. You'll dote on me and not take care of yourself." And you'll answer the door when Emily rings the bell.

"Zayan," she says, making eye contact with him in the rearview mirror and having some sort of telepathic best friend conversation via facial expressions.

"Why don't you come stay with us?" Zayan sighs, apparently having lost the silent argument. "Honey can take care of you and I'll take care of Honey."

"Great. Let's do that," I agree.

"We'll just swing by your place and pick up some clothes," Tally suggests.

"That's not necessary, it takes us too far from Zayan's and we've been in the car long enough for a day. He bought two or three changes of clothes for me. I'll be fine. You wouldn't know because you don't drive, but it's really tiring to do it for long and Zayan's driven really long distances two days in a row."

"Oh, sorry Z, I didn't think about that. Yeah, let's just go home and we'll let you and Garima rest."

"Garima?"

"My car," Zayan answers, petting the dashboard with the first glimpse of good mood that I've seen since they showed up yesterday. "I used to have a little convertible named 'Miss Betsey' Honey bought her for me. Did she ever tell you that story?"

The two of them laugh and talk over one another as they tell me the tale of Tally as a pool shark.

"I never would have guessed you were a con artist," I tease her as she helps me up the stairs to Zayan's apartment.

"I prefer to think of it as business acumen." She tosses her hair over her shoulder and giggles.

"You're making a joke, but you're right. Keep those instincts and let people underestimate you, it gives you an advantage."