Meant To Be (Heaven Hill Series) (33 page)

“I want her to talk to me about it. That way I can figure out who the fucker was and then scalp him like my ancestors.”

“You know how scary you are saying that as you drink from a skull coffee mug?” Liam deadpanned.

Tyler grinned. “I know. Keeps you on your toes don’t it?”

Denise gulped the water from the bottle that Meredith had finally given her. “You love this don’t you?” she panted, putting her hand at the stitch on her side.

“Not at all. It’s sad that you’re having such a hard time with a simple run,” Meredith grinned.

“Simple my ass Rager! These are fucking hills. Hills I say!”

“I know, and you’re doing a really good job. I really am proud of you.”

Denise took a moment to get her breath. “I’m proud of you too.”

The moment turned awkward as Meredith turned so that Denise couldn’t see her face. “Don’t turn away from me. I am proud of you. You’ve found something that you like doing and you’re doing it.”

“Only because I know I’m safe here,” Meredith argued.

“I worried about you that week after it happened. I didn’t think you were ever going to get out of that bed. You’ve made great strides.”

“But I still can’t let Tyler sleep in his own bed.”

Denise cautiously put her hand on Meredith’s arm. “Trust me, when you’re ready he’ll be ready. No one even looks at your wrong for fear of him.”

“I feel like I’m using him,” she admitted.

“You’re not. You’re living your life the only way you know how at this point and truthfully that’s all you can ask for. I can’t imagine going through what you went through and I’m not saying that out of pity. It’s the truth.”

But that was the problem wasn’t it? All Meredith could feel, when she could actually feel was the pity. The fear. The emptiness. When would it ever change?