Blame it on the shame Part 2

Chapter 37 (Lou-Lou)

I hear a knock at the door and jump. No one ever shows up at my apartment anymore, to say I'm a little u

When two more knocks follow after the first, I hop out of the bathtub and jog to the front door.

What greets me on the other side is a smiling Tyrone holding what has to be the world's most loaded plate of food.

"Sorry, I was in the bathtub," I blurt out.

He gives me a strange look, no doubt wondering why I'm fully dressed and my hair is bone dry.

My heart pangs because Ricardo's the only one in the world who would understand why that is.

"Mind if I come in for a little while?"

I move to the side. "Be my guest."

He gestures to the plate in his hand. "Momma's in town."

"I can see that," I say. "There's no way you or Jackson can cook all that."

To my surprise we both laugh.

Then he walks into my kitchen and starts opening cabinets and drawers like he owns the place. "Damn, Lou-Lou," he says. "What the hell do you eat? You have no food in here."

I slump down on the stool and try to hide my embarrassment. "I don't know. I haven't been that hungry lately."

Concern splashes across his face and I want to kick myself for being so candid with him. The last thing I want is for him to be giving me the pitiful look he's giving me right now.

Like I'm a lost puppy who needs to be taken care of.

He pulls the plate out of the microwave and hands me a fork. "Eat."

I take a few bites to appease him. When that's not enough for him, I take a few more.

Before I know it, the plate of food is nearly finished and he's gri

I nod in agreement and his expression changes to a serious one. "Don't take this the wrong way...but when was the last time you slept?"

"I—I'm fine."

He props his elbows on the counter. "That's not what I asked."

"I'm not a big sleeper."

He shuffles his feet and digs his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Look, I'm not going to push you to talk to me...but I want you to know that if you need a friend...you've got one."

"That's sweet, Tyrone," I say while walking over to the couch. "But you're already Ricardo's friend."

He sits down on the couch beside me. "Believe me, there's enough Tyrone to go around. I can be both your friends." He shrugs. "And you look like you could really use one these days."

He pulls a pillow out from underneath him. "Along with about 12 hours of solid uninterrupted sleep." He puts the pillow on his lap and points to it. "Now get over here."

"Um—what?"

He tugs on my arm until my head hits the pillow. "Get some sleep, Lou-Lou. I know I'm not Ricardo...but I'll watch over you and make sure no one hurts you. I'll go all hulk on their asses."

I laugh and my heart swells as he drapes a blanket over me and I begin to drift off. I faintly hear the sound of my phone ringing in the background but I'm far too tired to move. "Thank you, Tyrone," I whisper before I close my eyes and fall asleep for the first time in months.

I open my eyes a half-hour later to a frantic Tyrone pacing my floor while holding a cell phone in his hand.

"What the fuck, Lou-Lou?"

I have no idea what's made him so upset. Until I see who's cell phone he's holding.

"You—you're DeLuca's wife?" he shouts.

Shit, shit, shit. "Please calm down," I say. "And please, tell me you didn't pick up my phone."

"Are you kidding me? I'm not a fucking idiot with a death wish. Don't get me wrong, I was going to—but then I saw his name flash across the screen, followed by the text demanding that his wife call him back if she knew what was good for her."

He tosses my phone to me. "He's called about 8 times already…and text you so many times I lost count." He drags a hand down his face. "I wasn't trying to be rude and stick my nose in your business—I just wanted you to sleep without being disrupted."

"It's okay. I'm not mad."

I stare down at my phone, and as if right on cue; it starts ringing again. "I have to take this." I hold up a finger. "But please, don't leave. I can explain everything."

But can I, though? No. I most definitely ca