Read Online Concealed - A Hiding From Love Novel #2 by Selena Laurence - Free Book Online Page A

perked right up. Then you passed out, of course.” He laughs again.
    I try to sit up, groaning in pain as I do. He pulls a pillow up behind me and I sit back against it.
    “I’m really sorry,” I say, humiliation washing over me.
    He strokes my hair some more. “Don’t be. I didn’t realize how much stress this whole deal has been putting on you.”
    “What whole deal?” I ask warily.
    He sighs and looks down at his lap. “Having that guy here.”
    “He has a name,” I answer quietly.
    “Yeah, I know. Gabe. There. I said it. And I see that his being here is stressful for you. What I don’t know is if it’s stressful because he makes you nervous and reminds you of stuff you’d rather forget, or because you still have feelings for him.”
    He looks up at me, and I see the pain in his eyes. Marco has loved me for a long time, and I love him too. I never want to hurt him, and this is.
    “It’s not because I have feelings for him,” I lie. “But I know this is hurting you, and I don’t know how to fix it. I can’t make him move. I can’t force him to go back where he came from. I ignore him but he’s still here. How do I make this right, Marc?”
    He reaches out and puts his palm along my cheek then gives me a sad smile. “I don’t think you can, Lex. We’ll just have to wait it out and hope it works for the best. He’s not going to leave, and when I look at you, I know why. No guy in his right mind would let you go unless he had to. I’ve been blessed with four years of your life, and I hope I get a whole lot more, but if I were him? I’d be doing the same damn thing. I’d be going after you, and I’d try to get you back.”
    I feel a tear track down my cheek, and I lean my lips into his hand and plant a kiss on his palm.
    “It’s still you and me. It’ll always be you and me.”
    “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Lex. Just know I’m here too. And I’m not going anywhere either.” He stands up. “You able to eat anything?”
    I clear my throat, overwhelmed by emotion. “Maybe.”
    “Why don’t I make you some eggs and toast before I go hit the library?”
    I nod. “You’re a great boyfriend, you know.” I smile at him.
    “Just don’t forget it,” he says.
     

     
    After Marco leaves for the library, I spend a long time in the shower trying to wash away the pain that has taken up residence inside my brain and my chest. My drinking binge didn’t rid me of my problems, but it did get the anger out. I’m too tired and hungover to be mad anymore.
    Once I look like some semblance of a human again, I gather up all the filthy clothes from the week, grab a handful of quarters from the jar I keep in the kitchen, and head downstairs to the laundry room.
    I’m sorting through everything, preparing to fill one washer with darks and one with lights when I hear the door to the laundry room open. I turn to look behind me and find myself face to face with Gabe.
    “Sorry,” he says quickly. “I’ll come back later.” He starts to reverse course when I stop him.
    “Wait. I mean, you don’t have to leave. If you need to do your laundry, come on in.”
    He looks at me skeptically. “Is that the hangover talking or you really willing to be in the same room with me?”
    I sigh. I didn’t throw up this morning, but now my stomach feels like it’s reconsidering.
    “Look, I don’t remember everything about last night, but I know I said some pretty shitty things to you. I’m sorry, okay? It was the alcohol talking and I was out of line.”
    He nods then walks to the washing machines on the opposite side of the room from me and starts pulling stuff out of his basket. He has his back to me so I watch him for a minute. The muscles in his shoulders and back flex as he reaches into the basket and stacks laundry on the counter, and I remember the way they felt in the dream I had last night – firm, smooth, warm, like a piece of metal in the sunshine.
    I also can’t help but notice the set