“Whose douche mobile is this?”

“It was Connor’s. It was my only way back home,” she replied, looking up at me with sad eyes.

Well, wasn’t I an asshole.

“Thanks for getting me out of there.”

There was an awkward moment when I wanted to kiss her, but I realized she was waiting for me to let her go so she could get in the car. When I did, she dropped her head and started to hobble toward the driver’s side.

I grabbed her hand with the keys in it. “Uh, yeah, you’re not driving.”

She passed the keys over without an argument, which told me how much pain she was in. I helped her around to the passenger side. She had to lift her leg at the knee to get it into the car. I got in the driver’s side, where I practically ate the steering wheel, the seat was pulled up so far.

The air in the car was thick with tension, and Tenley was quiet as I pulled out of the parking lot onto the street. I glanced at her every so often. I had too many questions I wanted answers to— about tonight, about the last three weeks, about the night she left.

Finally, the silence too much, I asked, “What the hell would make you think it was a good idea to come to The Dollhouse?”

“Sarah has the key to my apartment and she wasn’t answering her phone. I figured she was working.”

“I have a key to your apartment. I would have let you in. Then we could have avoided this shit.”

“You weren’t answering my calls. I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me.”

We were right back to the very beginning, when she was all skittish around me. What damage had Trey done while she was in Arden Hills? I had a feeling her time there had been pretty fucking horrific. Which meant I needed to stow the anger brigade and stop snapping at her.

“No matter what’s happened between us, Tenley, you still could have come to me. I wouldn’t have turned you away.”

For whatever reason it was the wrong thing to say because her shoulders sagged and started shaking.

“Kitten?”

That made it worse. She pressed her hand over her mouth, but a sob slipped out. Thankfully, we were almost home. I pulled into the underground parking and cut the engine, flicking on the interior light so I could see her.

She was caved in on herself, the way she’d been after the first tattoo session. I smoothed my hand down her back. Like me, she’d lost weight. I could feel the prominent ridges of her spine through the layers of clothing. It scared me that she was more fragile than when she’d left.

She sucked in a couple of deep breaths, shuddering on the exhale. When she lifted her head, her emotions were under control again, but just barely. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so upset.”

“It’s okay—dealing with Sienna would make anyone crack. Why don’t you come up to my place? You’ll never be able to handle the stairs to your apartment.” I hoped the excuse would be enough to get her to agree. I had no idea where we stood, but I didn’t want her to go.

“I want to see TK,” she whispered.

“She’s up there. She’ll be happy you’re home.”

“TK’s at your place?”

“I’ve been taking care of her while you were away.”

“Oh.” She sniffed, then swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “That’s good. Thank you for doing that.”

I shrugged. “I wanted to.”

I got out of the car and came around to Tenley’s side, where she was already hoisting herself out. If she was still having this much trouble tomorrow, I was taking her to the doctor for X-rays or something. Her lips were set in a thin line, which I took to mean she was in pain and wanted to hide it.

“You need anything from the trunk?” I asked.

She shook her head, so I locked up the douche mobile and we headed for the elevator. She kept looking over at the staircase. No way could she hike three flights to my condo with the way she was limping. I told her so.

“I don’t like elevators,” she said as the doors opened.

I wasn’t partial either, but carrying her wasn’t an option. “It’s a quick ride.”

She hesitated, but when I put my foot over the sensor to prevent the doors from closing, she went inside. Tenley tucked herself into the corner, gripping the handrails that circled the mirrored steel box. I hit the button for the second floor, then put my arm around her. When we started to move, she latched onto me, burying her face in my chest with an apology. She had no reason to be sorry; the motion of the elevator probably mimicked the sensations of the plane when it dropped. And the windowless, confined space would worsen the vertigo.

I held on to her, stroking her hair, watching our entwined reflection in the mirrors surrounding us. When the elevator stopped and the doors slid open, Tenley practically pitched herself into the hall.

She’d only been to my place once, but she remembered where it was and started down the hall. I wouldn’t make her wait until I’d checked all the rooms tonight, as I normally would; she needed to sit down immediately.

Inside, Tenley braced herself on the wall as she gingerly removed her shoes. I put them in the closet beside mine.

TK bounded down the hall and came to me, winding around my legs, peeking out at Tenley.

“Come here, baby girl,” Tenley cooed as she melted into the floor.

TK cocked her little head to the side uncertainly and stayed close to me.

Tenley clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and snapped her fingers. The expression on her face was heartbreaking, as if she expected the snub.

I crouched down and scratched TK’s head. “It’s okay, little buddy, that’s your mom. She went on a trip, but she’s back now.” TK mewed and peeked out from between my ankles. “That’s right, go say hi. She missed you, just like we missed her.”

TK trotted over and sniffed at Tenley’s outstretched hand. It took TK a minute, but eventually she got close enough for Tenley to pick her up. The real crying started then. Silent sobs shook Tenley’s body as she folded around the kitten.

I tried not to be jealous of a stupid cat, but it was difficult to not feel slighted that she got a more heartfelt greeting than I did. The only reason Tenley had touched me so far was because she needed my help, and the elevator freaked her out.

“I missed you so much. I’m sorry I was gone so long. I won’t do it again, I promise.” Her eyes lifted to meet mine, teary and bleak.

Maybe her words weren’t just for TK, maybe they were meant for me, too. I wanted to believe that, but her disappearance and refusal to call made it impossible to trust her. Actions spoke louder than words. As glad as I was to have her home, I was still angry with her for leaving in the first place. Conflicted didn’t begin to describe it.

I was also exhausted. It was almost three in the morning, and I hadn’t slept much the past week, let alone the last three.

“Why don’t you come to the living room? My couch is more comfortable than the floor. Besides, I want to take a look at the scratches on your face.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes. I do. Now come.” I put my hands under her arms and helped her to her feet while she cuddled TK to her chest.

She took in the surroundings as though she were seeing them for the first time. When we reached the living room, she sucked in a breath, her eyes on the new art adorning the walls.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated that my feelings for her were so apparent in the designs. “You want something to drink?”

“Please.” She sank down into the corner of the couch and pulled her legs up, turning so she could see the pictures hanging above it.

“You want beer or wine? Or something stronger?”

“Stronger might be good.”

I poured two glasses of scotch, resisting the urge to shoot mine and refill it immediately. I was pretty wound up and I had a lot of questions, but overwhelming her two minutes after she walked in the door—particularly after a showdown with Sienna—wouldn’t be in either of our best interests.