Chapter 12

I couldn't bear to look at her looking so fragile.

She used to be so full of energy. I couldn't help but think I had done that to her.

She still looked so beautiful, though.

But the main reason I couldn't stay close was my growing attraction to her.

Since the hospital, I have felt this need to be around her, to be with her, and to touch her. to hold her.

I knew she would let me touch her if I chose to.

But I didn't want my relationship with her to be purely sexual. Riley had so much passion in her. I could see it in her eyes. I didn't want it to seem like I used her body.

I wanted her to feel as miserable as I did. At least she should be as attracted to me as I am to her.

I couldn't stop the thought from sneaking in.

I wondered how it would have been if it had been her. I shared all I had shared with Isabella.

Riley wouldn't be a lying bitch like Isa was.

But then all women were the same. Riley was with me because of money too.

Only one female loved me when I was empty, when I was nothing. My kisses stopped her tears; merely seeing me was enough for her.

But I was the one who turned my back on her. I abandoned her. I'd searched the whole world for her, but I had no leads, nothing except that her hair was blonde.

She came to me only in my dreams. Still, I hardly dream about her anymore.

Now it was Riley in my head. I hadn't gone home for four days now. I wonder if she misses me.

*****

Riley

It's been five days since I saw Damien.

I spent the first day hoping and waiting for him.

I'm still waiting for him.

I used these days to get closer to Luciana and Jeremiah.

We were now friends.

I made them stop dressing so formal. Now they are really casual, and we sit in the house like friends hanging out.

They were now Lucy and Jerry to me.

Because we never go out and we have everything we need in the house, it seemed like Lucy did more work taking care of me than Jerry since he could only enter my room freely.

Lucy and I got closer with each passing hour. She helped me bathe, dress, and do lots of things to my hair.

We made Jerry help Gram in the kitchen. We had all grown fond of her. Last night she announced that we could all call her Gram instead of Mrs. Graham when Damien wasn't around.

We also made Jerry paint our nails. He seemed so good at it. Even Gram had let him paint her toes too.

We had wanted to do a uniform color. I wanted yellow, Lucy wanted pink, and Gram wanted brown, so Jerry settled on peach.

It was beautiful.

I heard the gate open. I wheeled myself outside, hoping it was Damien.

It wasn't.

It was a blonde, tall lady. I wondered who Sha was.

"Good afternoon, Miss. How can I help you?" I speak up as the owner of the house.

Not bothering to reply to my greeting, she fired back, "You're the one that needs help, bitch."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"How early of you to ask that. I'm the love of Damien's life, and I'm here to tell you to get the fuck out of his life."