10. Henry

CHAPTER TEN

henry

I try to stop obsessing about the good-looking redhead who was all over Felix this morning. He’s not mine. I made it clear we’re friends and nothing more.

Honestly, being friends is more than I could have ever hoped for with a guy like Felix.

If he wants to go out with the good-looking, buff guy, he should. I doubt that guy has even close to as many issues as I do.

No baggage.

I come with a lot of baggage.

Okay, I need to stop. I barely know the guy. Except I’ve spent every day with him since I showed up here. I think I’ve talked to him more than anyone else in the past few years. Hell, maybe ever.

I can’t explain it. But being around Felix just makes me feel safe in a way I never have.

And that’s scary as hell.

Now that guy is back for the second time today, just as we’re almost finished with our shift. He’s flirting with Felix, touching his arm, and I feel sick. And apparently, I also have a deep hatred for redheads I never had before this guy started touching Felix.

I listen to the lilt of Felix’s laugh while he’s talking to the guy. He shakes his head, but he doesn’t seem annoyed. He holds up one finger to the redhead, then walks to me, wearing a smile on his face. But that smile doesn’t light up his face like it normally does.

“He’s back,” I say with a bite in my tone I don’t try to hide.

“He is.” Felix grins, tickling Hazel’s tummy with his big hand and then looking at me. “We’re going to go get something to eat.”

“You are?” I ask, horrified at how my gut clenches.

He shrugs and doesn’t look all that enthusiastic. “Yeah well, he’s good-looking, and he’s nice.” Felix looks over his shoulder at the guy, who’s clearly gaga over him, and then he turns his eyes back to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” Suddenly, I feel panicky inside. He usually comes back to my place after work. He’s not planning to come at all tonight. What if he and this guy hit it off? Date? Get married?

Shit. I really have to get a grip on myself.

“Um, yeah. It’ll probably be late when we’re done with dinner,” Felix says carefully, watching me closely.

“That’s okay. You can still come over.” Shit. Damn it. What the hell is wrong with me?

He cocks his head to the side, watching me. “I don’t want to wake Hazel.”

Okay, just let him off the hook. You can be alone for one damn night after work. It’ll be good.

“You know she wakes up for a snack every night.” That was not what I told you to say, mouth. I swear to God, I feel like an idiot.

He smiles at that, looking down at Hazel, who really wants him. I can feel it in her little body as she reaches out for him. She’s used to playing with him after work.

God, what if she’s attached to him now, and he gets married to the jacked redhead?

“Well, maybe I’ll stop by later then,” he says, and a sense of relief washes over me.

“Good. You should,” I say quickly, hoping it sounds less desperate than I feel.

He says his goodbyes and heads off with the guy I now inexplicitly hate, and I take Hazel upstairs to the studio apartment. I make her a bottle and get her some snacks before camping out on the couch.

I’m trying like hell not to think about Felix on his date. What if I’d have kissed him that day on the couch?

Would he still be on that date tonight?

Probably.

Because everyone leaves eventually.

Everything inside me screams that I know better. That this is no different. My parents. Maggie. Foster parents. Everyone leaves.

Felix is a good guy, but I’m damaged. Beyond damaged. And I’ll push him away, no matter how stubborn he is. No matter how good he is. I’ll push him away.

And I’ll be damned if I’ll hurt him.

I can’t do that.

Not to him.