The Mane Squeeze
Page 85

Gwen, youre not an idiot.
Whatever. It doesnt matter. Right? Because Im an ONeill and thats what ONeills do. Fuck other peoples husbands, get shot at, fix boxing matches, and set things on fire for money.
Lock blinked. What?
And we do that because were ONeills and thats what ONeills do. I might as well accept it. And you need to accept it, too. Because according to you Im your girlfriend and Im also an ONeillso prepare yourself for the humiliation!
Letting out a breath, Lock lifted Gwen into his arms and moved her around until she was sideways on his lap, her head against his chest, her legs resting over one of his thighs. He held her and his hands smoothed up and down her back.
What are you doing? she asked, sounding pissier than hed ever heard her.
Being nice to you. Whether you want me to or not.
Gwen didnt struggle; there didnt seem to be a point. Instead she sat there while he held her. He didnt try and make a sexual move, he didnt do anything but hold her. She had no idea what he was waiting for, what he wanted from her.
Gwen was too busy seething to notice the tears until they fell on her chest. Mortified, she tried then to pull away, but Lock wouldnt let her go.
Would he understand these werent tears of sadness, but of frustration? Her frustration for having a mother she adored but who somehow managed to torture her without trying?
And all this violence and fighting, poor Blayne turned into a human shotput, over an old grudge that involved Roxy, Sharyn McNelly and, tragically, Donna McNellys father.
And here was this thing, this precious, delicate, amazing thing between her and Lock. An amazing thing she could see growing into more. But how could she hope to keep a man used to intellectual discourse over grilled salmon and wineglasses of cranberry juice, when her own mother was busy nailing the wolves of her derby rivals? An event so well-known it had once been the hot topic of conversation as far away as frickin
Tennessee. A place ONeills never ventured willingly until Mitch and Sissy hooked up.
Yet Lock wasnt running away from her. Hed picked her up at work, taken her back to his apartment, and made her vile tea. Even now he was holding her, stroking her naked body while managing to not make it sexual, but comforting. And as much as she tried to hold back from him, as much as Gwen tried to keep this part of her life separate from Lock, she couldnt. He wouldnt let her.
Gwen gripped his T-shirt, knowing she should push him away, knowing she shouldnt drag him into any of this, but she ended up burying her face against his chest and crying. She cried until she couldnt cry anymore.
She had no idea how long they stayed like that; evenafter she stopped crying, they stayed like that. But when Gwen was done, she was done. She sat up straight, but Locks arms stayed loose around her.
Im done now.
Okay. She adored that he didnt want to talk things out or psychoanalyze the situation. She hated that.
And we cant let my mother find out what happened Labor Day weekend, or shell do something stupid.
You dont think Mitch
She waved her hand, cutting him off. Hes so freakin occupied with trying to get in the middle of my business, it wont even cross his mind.
Okay. He brushed her hair off her cheek. Youre staying tonight, right? he asked.
If you want
Good. Lock kissed her forehead. Now, do you want to feel better?
Oddly phrased question, but okay. Sure.
Do you really want to feel better or would you rather sit around wallowing?
She chuckled. No. Im done wallowing. And she really wanted to feel better. Of course just having Lock here was making her feel better.
I can help you feel better. He lifted her off his lap and placed her carefully on the bed, before he scrambled off.
Gwen wasnt exactly surprised when he took his clothes off, nor did she mind.
Naked, Lock got back on the bed and stretched out next to her. Lay down. She reached for him but he shook his head. No, no. Stretch out. Next to me.
That seemed weird but whatever.
Nowyou lift your legs up straight. Not sure what the hell he was doing, Gwen lifted her legs up. It was kind of humorous to see the two pairs of legs raised up considering how much longer his were. And using your handsgrab your toes.
Gwen dropped her legs and sat up. You want me to do what?
Trust me. Youll feel so much better.
She quickly scrutinized the room. You dont have a hidden camera around here or something?
Of course not.
This isnt going to end up on the Internet or something, right? Ill be really pissed if this ends up on the Net.
Trust me, he said again. And when Gwen looked at him he was playing with his toes.
With a shrug, Gwen stretched out beside Lock, lifted her legs up, and grabbed her toes.
You can roll back and forth, too.
All right then.
What do you think?
This isuhkind ofnice actually.
I know. I do it anytime Im really pissed or depressed or bored orplaying.