After the scene that played out earlier today, Elliot decided it was best to stay in her own bed tonight. I'll admit my behavior may raise a few flags to Oliver, but I couldn't help it. I've seen first-hand what blind rage mixed with alcohol can do to a man, and I'm not about to let it happen to her.

It's just after midnight when Oliver's truck finally pulls into the driveway. A group of guys showed up hours ago to collect Judah's vehicle so I figured he would have been home a long time ago. I watch him look to the house and then turn quickly in my direction. I meet him at the door.

"Ollie, what took you so long?" I ask, pulling the door open.

He gives me a stern look and steps past me. "You were out of line today."

I let out a stunned huff of air before closing the door. "Are you joking? I'm the one who was out of line?"

Oliver turns to me and crosses his arms. "For you to insinuate that I wouldn't protect my sister is beyond ridiculous."

I shake my head and take a step toward him. "Listen, man..."

"No, you listen," he says harshly, cutting me off. "I always have Elliot's best interests in mind. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her. I know Judah. He's young and clearly upset right now, but I have no reason to believe he would physically hurt her."

My eyes widen. "Was I the only one who was here today? He had her backed against the wall out there and you did nothing to stop it."

"I was right there watching the whole thing. I stepped in when I thought he was getting a little too pushy."

I scoff. "Yeah, after I already pulled him off of her."

Oliver throws his hands up. "Why are we fighting over this? Everything is going to be okay now. We had a long talk, and once he stopped crying and sobered up, he started making some sense again."

I laugh. "Judah made sense. Really?"

He nods. "Yeah, the back and forth between them has really been getting to him. Elliot is extremely manipulative whether she intends to be or not. Some guys can't handle that."

I cover my mouth with my hand for a moment. I'm about to say something I'll regret. Oliver takes a seat on the couch and clasps his hands in his lap. "She's my sister, and I love her, but she's quite selfish. I can't say anything really because I act exactly the same way. We're cut from the same cloth." He shrugs, and I clench my fist involuntarily.

He laughs once. "This is not the first time something like this happened. Last year her and Judah broke up, and she started dating some guy from the swim team to make him jealous. After that whole ordeal the guy stalked her for weeks. It's like she doesn't realize the way her actions affect people or even cares."

My mind is completely blown right now. I can't believe that Oliver is almost defending Judah. "So, you're saying this happened because Elliot brought it on herself."

He shakes his head. "No. Listen, right or wrong, I would defend her above anyone else. I not so subtly explained to Judah that a repeat performance will not be tolerated. I'm just saying it didn't surprise me it came to this."

Honestly, it shouldn't surprise me either. After the games we played I saw firsthand how vindictive she can be. But the part Oliver is missing is the side of her you can't see. It's a front so she can protect herself from how she really feels. Not to mention her most substantial role model is a glorified playboy. That would cause anyone to have a skewed sense of what a relationship is supposed to be like.

Oliver stands and walks over to me, extending his hand. "I'm glad you were there today. She's lucky to have two guys who care that much for her."

I shake his hand in return. "Anytime."

He smiles. "Good." He pats me on the back on the way out. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The way Oliver views Elliot should be unnerving to me, but for some reason it isn't. This is what she wants you to see, and the fact that even her own brother does, proves just how far she takes it. I don't for one second think we've seen the last of Judah, I just hope I will be there next time he comes around.

***

Even though we've tried to be extra careful this week, it wasn't enough to keep her completely away. She's currently curled up beside me on the couch as I sit through another episode of this stupid reality TV show she loves. It's a pain I'm willing to endure. I would stare at a blank wall if she asked me to.

"Hunter," she says suddenly. I look down at her as she pulls herself into a sitting position. "I feel like we should talk about the other day."

I lace my fingers with hers and pull her hand to my lips. "Are you still upset?"

She shakes her head. "It's not that...I mean yes, that was upsetting, but I'm more concerned about you."

My eyebrows pull in. "Me? Why?"

Her eyes drift to our hands. "I made a lot of mistakes with Judah. I misinterpreted his feelings for me, and even though he has his share of flaws, I really hurt him."

I tilt her chin up with my finger. "Elliot, you're defending the guy that wanted an open relationship with you so he could fool around at college. I don't feel bad for him."

She laughs a little. "Okay, that may be true, but isn't it weird that it didn't bother me at all?"

I shrug. "How deep can a relationship be if it's just based on sex?"

Elliot bites her lip, and I instantly feel like a dick.

"I don't think our relationship is that way if that's what you're thinking."

"Hunter, you can't even talk about a dream that you had. There's so much we don't know about each other."

I take a breath and square my shoulders. "Okay, ask me what you want to know. I'll tell you anything." I say a silent prayer that she doesn't start where I know she wants to.

"All right, what's your favorite color?" She smiles, and I let out a nervous laugh. I love this girl.

"Green, what's yours?"

"I'm a girl. It's pink."

I hold up a finger. "Not all girls like pink, Elle. Just saying."

"Okay." She pauses before her next question, chewing on her bottom lip again. "Why don't you want to talk to your dad?"

My jaw twitches, but I push it down. If she needs to know something about me then that's what I have to do. "My father and I are very similar—and it scares the shit out of me."

Her eyes hold mine, almost pleading with me to continue. "He has a very short temper and likes to control everything. We used to fight constantly, and it was difficult for my mother. It then caused them to fight and uh—things got ugly. More than once."

She places her other hand on top of mine. "Is that why you came here? To get away from him?"

As much as I want to tell her, I'm not sure I can handle the look on her face when I do. For now, I take the easy way out. "Pretty much."

"Is that why you think Judah will hurt me?"

All I can do is nod as I struggle to swallow the lump in my throat.

She hesitates again, and I can tell she doesn't want to ask her next question. "Do you trust me?"

"I want to say yes, but I won't lie. It's my initial reaction not to. That's something I can't control. For the longest time I refused to let anyone get close to me." I take a breath and pull her closer. "But with you, I can't seem to get close enough. I can't really explain it. It's just something I feel."

She leans forward and kisses me once. "I feel that, too. I'm afraid I'm going to screw this up somehow, and I don't want to do that—not to you."

I smooth back the hair that falls in her face. "If you and I are going to work we need to trust each other. I don't want to play games with you, and I don't want to have any secrets." The lie slips so easily off my tongue even I'm surprised.

"No more secrets?" She repeats the question for conformation.

I fight to keep the emotions from my face. "No."

She shifts herself onto my lap, and I immediately twist my fingers through her hair, drawing her into me. Her kiss is urgent again, and I match her intensity. It always seems that way no matter how good things are going between us. Almost like we're on the verge of disaster.

I stand up from the couch with her still in my arms, and she wraps her legs around my waist. Her lips never leave mine until we fall onto the bed. I don't want to be forceful with her tonight. I want to take this slow.

Although I can tell she likes aggressive sex, I don't want to control her right now. I just want to love her. When everything feels so uncertain, I want to be the one who makes her feel safe.