Tender Loving Clyve
CLYVE
Damn it!
I WAS ALREADY sitting on my bed trying to grasp if I was in a state of dreaming or not, but Austen kept on calling my name from the other line.
I rubbed my eye. “You okay, mate?”
“I am, but, um, I need your help.” He was like catching his breath. He must be running or carrying something heavy, and that alarmed me.
“What’s wrong?” I may have known him for a few days, but he was Westley’s brother. I already felt guilty for putting a boundary between us, and I never gave her a chance to speak for her side. I thought that was good for both of us and added to the fact that she was still married.
“Clyve, are you still there?”
“Yeah. How can I help you?”
“Um, I found Harry drunk. I can’t take her home, and my place isn’t exactly good for her. You know her father would kick me out of Harry’s life if I let her daughter get drunk.”
Damn it!
My throat choked up. I should have told her as soon as Keene left my flat, and now she was pissed. “You couldn’t even stop your sister from drinking?”
“Man, I’m so sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night, but I couldn’t think of anyone to ask for help.”
“And you thought I was the best choice, huh? How marvelous.”
“It’s okay, Clyve. Sorry for the bother. I’ll drive her home.”
I groaned and pressed my lips into a thin line as my conscience was like bees buzzing in my ears. “I’ll text you my address.”
“Thank you, Mr. Linton.” Mr. Linton my arse.
“Just drive safely. I’ll be waiting.”
After I informed the security about their arrival, I brewed coffee and leaned against the counter because this would be the longest night.
I didn’t know how exactly how I would react to this whole situation. If Westley was sober, I was sure she didn’t want to see my face again. I didn’t stop her from walking out of the studio because I couldn’t be her friend anymore. I would be tempted to break my rule again.
* * *
“HOW MUCH DID she drink?” Austen walked past me as soon as I opened the door for them. He was carrying Westley bridal style. She must have passed out on their way here.
I averted my gaze when my gaze landed on her thighs. Her dress drove up, and I could almost see her arse. I fought the urge not to take her from Austen, but he was her brother.
“A few shots. Where should I put her?”
“Follow me.” I marched through the hallway and opened another door. I was thankful that the cleaning service was here last weekend to keep this place tidy even when I was away.
As soon as he put her down on the bed, he breathed deeply and propped his hands on his hips. “I need to call her father.”
“Hold on a sec. Did she call you to pick her up?”
He shook his head, his gaze still pinned on sleeping, Westley.
“What’s going on, Austen?” I pulled her shoes off and covered her with a blanket.
“I don’t really drink. This is the second time we went to a bar. This time, she got herself drunk. She must be so upset, and I couldn’t stop her. So I just watched her until she couldn’t drink anymore.” He faced me, concern plastering all over his face.
I swallowed the guilt in my throat. I knew the reason why Westley was getting wasted. “She didn’t take it pretty well, I guess.”
“So you know about Keene?”
“Yeah.” I let out a shaky breath. “He came to me before he left. I didn’t wanna get involved more than I already did. It was a mistake, but I also wasn’t aware that they’re married.”
“Hey, man. It wasn’t your fault.” Why everyone was kept telling me that it wasn’t my fault?
I stared at him intensely, and the worse part was, I couldn’t see the judgment in his eyes. It was supposed to make me feel better that someone understood my situation, but I still felt guilty.
“I know Harry’s life is complicated. She should also be lucky to have everything handed her on a silver platter. Everyone wishes to be in her shoe, but Harry doesn’t feel that way. She has a twisted family, an insensitive father, a terrible mother, and of course the two villains in her life. She always wants attention from her father, but she can’t just have it. Lyndon was too busy with his power until Harry turned herself into a rebellious kid, but what she did to her best friend was the bravest and the best thing she ever did in her life. I thought maybe you should think twice before you judge my sister.”
His last words hit me hard in my stomach. I looked down. I might have judged her. Who could blame me? I trusted her, and I cared about her a lot. Then she lied right into my face. Convenience or not she should have told me before what happened between us went deep.
Every time I thought of those wonderful two nights, I couldn’t help but wince at the thought of Keene while I was losing my mind with the best feelings I had for years. Who people wouldn’t feel remorse when you considered him as a friend? Yet you were unintentionally stabbing him behind his back.
Austen was already out of sight when I lifted my gaze to the moaning sound of Westley. My steps were calculated. As I stepped closer, my brows furrowed to see her seemingly profusely sweating despite the room temperature.
“Westley?” I found myself sitting on the edge of the bed, wiping off the strands of her locks away from her face. When I felt her forehead with the back of my hand, she was burning up. I did the same to her neck. “Westley?”
All she answered to me was moan. I was quicker on my feet and bolted out of the room. “Austen?”
I found him on the kitchen counter, seemingly in deep thought. “Do you know Westley is burning up?”
His eyes widened in shock as he shook his head in a daze. “No.”
“You can’t feel her burning up?” I glared at him, but he looked like he wasn’t aware that Westley was sick.
“I honestly don’t have any idea. Should we bring her to the hospital?”
I pulled out my phone. “Good thinking. And her father will definitely kill us both.”
“Okay.” Panic, he stood straight. “What should we do?”
I dialed my mother, and she was probably sleeping. “She didn’t pass out because of the effect of alcohol. She has a fever. Go get a bowl and fill them with cold water. There’s a clean towel in the bathroom. Damn it, Austen. You just signed our death wish!”
“Hey, honey.”
“Mum?”
“Honey, what’s wrong with the two of you? You always call me at a bad time.”
“I’m sorry, Mum. This is a matter of-”
“Of life and death? Are you in trouble, CC?” Her voice filled with alarm, and I wanted to punch myself.
“No. Not yet at least, but my friend is kinda having a fever. What should I do?”
“Oh? Mum is good at that. First, check his body temp if you have a thermometer with you. Then if the result is high, you can give him acetaminophen per oral if he’s awake.”
“Her, mum.”
“Oh, my god! Where is she? Your brother mentioned someone to me when I met Ry. And she’s Westley, am I right? The one I met in the hospital with Keene Storm?”
Fuck! I scratched my scalp. “Mum-”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Mum?” She hung up on me. Great! Now I needed to explain to her who Westley and Austen were to me.
Damn it. My brother couldn’t just shut his mouth up. How would I tell my mother that Westley was married? She didn’t have to know, and I hoped my brother intentionally skipped that detail from Mum.
Austen was already tending to Westley in the room when I brought him the thermometer. “Check her temp. My mum would be here shortly. She’s a doctor.”
“Thanks.” He lifted his gaze. He was sad and worried. I would feel the same if I were him, but neither of these was his fault.
I glanced at Westley again. I had to set aside my anger towards her. I shouldn’t have followed my guts and my lust here, but it wasn’t just lust. I knew it the first time I saw her on the screen. I even admitted to her.
I initiated everything, and I literally seduced her because of these stupid feelings I had for her. What we had was some kind of twisted fate. No one had to be blamed. It was just, it had to end. What we had was wrong. Not until Westley was free from her tangled life. The only question left was when?