The Arrangement

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Lennox

"Fine," Blair grumbles with a tone that has me thinking the reluctance she's attempting to exude right now isn't quite the way she's really feeling.

If she really wanted to she could demand to leave, use any of our phones to have a cab come and collect her, even report us for keeping her here. Yet she hasn't really made any real attempts to leave and something tells me it's because she doesn't really want to.

In truth, if this was anyone else we've previously brought in we'd probably of cut ties the moment she said she wanted to go home the first time. It would probably be easier that way. Yet none of us want that to happen, that's clear enough to see.

We're all way more invested in Blair sticking around than I think any of us would have expected. Us wanting her to give us another chance is a clear example of that.

I have a feeling this'll go one of two ways. Either we'll be able to bring her round or she'll want out anyways.

I just hope it's not the latter.

With Ashton and Carter back to actually speaking to each other and the issues between Henley and Carter seemingly resolved we're definitely off to a better start than we were a week ago.

Things are positive for now and surely they can only keep getting better.

There's an odd kind of silence that settles amongst us all, almost as if none of us quite know what to say and in true Blair fashion she picks up on it straight away.

"So what happens now?" She asks looking round at us all. "Do we just sit in awkward silence or?..."

As expected the air is tense, all of us contemplating what actually does happen next.

"What would you like to do Blair?" Carter asks, his brow arched expectantly.

"Me?" She queries pointing to herself, she seems to think about it for a moment before deciding. "Well honestly," she says with a pause, her lips tugging down into a frown. "I'd like to curl into a ball and wallow away until I don't feel like I'm dying anymore."

Just like that she manages to cause the tension to completely dissipate, there's chuckles that come from all of us and even Carter cracks a smile. An actual genuine smile which is beyond relieving to see.

The only one of us that doesn't see the amusement, is Blair. Seeming to think about it to herself for another moment she nods and slides off her stool. "Yep wallowing is my plan for the day"

With that she heads off towards the lounge without another word, leaving us all to watch her go.

I can't help but let out a sigh of relief at the fact we are definitely heading in the right direction.

For the most part It's a reasonably peaceful day, Carter and Ashton have been off trying to figure things out between them and in true Henley fashion he got cabin fever within an hour and went off for a run.

Seeing as Blair is too hungover to do anything she's been curled up on the couch in a state of misery, binge watching some reality show whilst I went and worked out in the gym downstairs.

Once I finish my workout I shower and head into the lounge where she's still sprawled out on the couch sleeping. Seating myself at the other end I cautious not to disturb her but the moment my ass hits the cushions her eyes spring open.

She scowls at me for all of about a second before she lifts up onto her knees and crawls up the couch, then she slumps down dropping her head into my lap with a huff. But that's not the most amusing part. No, it's the way she takes my hand and places it at the nape of her neck.

I take that as her silent request and start massaging my fingers through her hair, her little content sigh signally that's exactly what she wanted.

"Feeling any better?" I ask.

"No" she grunts wincing as she shifts slightly trying to get herself comfortable. "I'm still hungover and now every part of my body aches." There's a kind of whine to her tone that has me biting back my amusement.

"Regretting the whiskey?"

"Like you wouldn't believe" she scoff and then groans as if the action causes her a great deal of pain, "at least I didn't end up locked in a basement this time" she then grumbles and my fingers halt their massaging as my whole body goes tense.

"It's okay I'm not particularly angry anymore" Blair sighs seeming to pick up on my unease straightaway.

She seems to think on it for a few, jolting her head slightly to get me to continue massaging.

"I dunno I'm a little disappointed actually" she then admits and I gather she means she's disappointed in us but I find in sorely mistaken as she goes on to elaborates.

"It's just..." she trails off, taking a d word on breath, "there's so much I wanted to try... to explore... and now I feel like I barely even got chance"

Her revelation takes me back, not what I was expecting at all.

When I don't respond she perches herself up to look at me with wide eyes. "What?" She asks looking a little fearful. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just wasn't expecting you to say that," I admit and as her brows pinch together I go on, "I assumed you wouldn't want us anywhere near you like that."

"I don't"

Her admission completely knocks me yet again, especially after what she's just said.

Pulling herself upright she sits back on her heels, her dead dipping as she speaks again. "I mean I don't want to want you, any of you, but I can't help it."

Finally she meets my gaze as she continues and the sad look in her eyes is painful to see. "I should hate you, want nothing to do with any of you yet I can't force myself to really feel that way and I hate it."

Tears well in her eyes before she blinks and they slowly trickle down her cheeks. "It's pathetic I know," she mumbles swatting away her tears.

I have a feeling her hangover isn't exactly helping with how she's feeling right now, but whether that's part of the reason or not she's clearly a little vulnerable and I get why.

"It's not pathetic Blair," I sigh but she shakes her head, disagreeing with me straightaway.

"None of this is what I was expecting" she admits, her shoulders deflating slightly, "well I don't know what I was expecting" she then says holding her hands out so her freshly healing and scarring palms are facing up. "None of this is."

I don't think there's particularly anything I can say right now to ease how she's feeling so I decide to go with another option.

After all actions speak louder than words.

Standing I hold my hold out for her to take, "come on"

She stares at me with a little dumbfounded expression that quite frankly adorable. "Don't think, just take my hand and come with me" I say and it causes her brows to pinch together but I don't relent. Instead I keep my hand held out for her to take.

After a moment of consideration she finally takes it and allows me to pull her up to guide her up to her room.

"What are we doing?" She asks as we step inside.

I don't answer straightaway as I head into the bathroom and grab a towel first, but when I come out and hand it to her that adorable confused expression is back.

"You're going to get undressed and lay on the bed face down with the towel covering you" I explain and have to resist the urge to laugh from the way her eyes bulge.

"Why?" She blusters, her cheeks flushing a bright crimson, her mind clearly going in one direction.

Smirking I turn to head out of her room to collect everything I need. Pausing briefly to call over my shoulder. "You'll find out"