Free Escaping Me by Cat Mason Page B

bottle.
    Gray shuts the door and leans his hip against the counter. “What list?” He asks, handing me a lemon wedge. 
    I grab my bag, yank the little pad out, thrusting it at him, “My life list.  All the aspects of a good life, in numerical order, and Landon fuckin’ Cole just ruined it all.  I gotta pack my shit. I gotta leave before he gets back.” I say tossing the salt and lemon down deciding to just down the bottle instead. 
    Gray looks at the list then shakes his head.  Taking the bottle, he grabs my hands as I try to shove past him. “Listen, I’m sorry you’re hurt baby.  Can’t say I’m sorry he did this though.  Landon fucked up big but it’s his goddamn loss.  I don’t know what the hell you see in him anyway.  You’re a wildflower.  You deserve more than being put in some fuckin’ case to be looked at but never touched.  Ever since that first night at the bar I was sucked in by you.  I wanted to talk to you, know everything about you.  I want nothing more than to just be right here right now with you.  I fight and battle against it but the pull I feel toward you won’t go away.  I can’t just stand here watching the train wreck that is going on without having my say.  That bastard is my brother but you’re fuckin’ up if you let this shit slide pretending as if nothing happened.  You can do whatever you want Daisy. I’m here to listen to you bitch, hold him down so you can stomp his balls into the pavement, or fuck you into next week but you won’t leave.”
    I look at him as if he has grown another arm, “What do you mean I can’t leave?” I scream as I pound my fist against his chest. “I won’t stay here.  Not now.  What do I get by staying here Gray?  I get to let Tad and Landon grope all over each other while I watch!  Fuck you and your damn brother!”
    “Probably best to let you go, Daisy but I can’t.   Tried to ignore it but I can’t.   Won’t be ignoring it anymore baby that’s for sure.  I also won’t watch him walk all over you while you wilt.”
    Slumping to the floor, I sob into my hands .  Gray swoops me up and carries me down the aisle to the bedroom.  I don’t have the energy to fight him.  He lays me on the bed then quickly turns to leave the room.  I have no doubt that he is going to go pace until Landon comes through the door so he can pound his ass into dog food.  I don’t want to be alone.  The thought of Landon being with Tad makes me feel more emotions than I ever thought that I could.  I want to feel something, anything other than all this hurt.  I want someone to put me first. 
    “Gray don’t leave me.” I whisper.
    His hand on the knob, Gray rests his forehead on the door letting out a sigh. “Daisy, you have no idea how hard it would be to just lay with you not being able to touch you.  I can’t.  I don’t have any more fight left in me tonight baby.” He chokes out.  I know that he is trying to be strong right now for me but things have changed.  Shit everything has.  He feels the same inner-struggle I do?  I’ve been betrayed by the man I planned my life out with for the last year.  Secrets, lies and who knows what else.  I don’t want to be me anymore.  Right now I just want to be anyone but Daisy Shayne.  I watch as Gray’s fingers squeeze against the doorknob so hard his knuckles lose color, his chest rising and falling rapidly.  In that moment I want nothing but to forget Landon, even if for just an hour.  I don’t even feel my mouth move as I blurt the words he told me just hours ago he was waiting on.
    “I’m asking you Gray son.  Make me feel something other than this anger and helplessness, please.  I want to forget, to be anyone other than me right now.”
    Gray turns and faces me.  Kicking off his boots as he walks the three steps to the bed.  I raise up on my knees in the bed, loosening the tie holding my dress up letting it drop, exposing my breasts.  A growl roars up through