As Ellison carried Joycelyn through the hotel’s underground parking lot, the atmosphere between them was thick with tension. He’d been worried when he found her, his concern melting into anger as she recounted what had happened with Tommy and Octavia.
Ellison’s grip on her tightened as she snuggled into his chest, clearly shaken by the events. The night had taken a drastic turn, and though he was determined to keep her safe, there was still a part of him that was frustrated by her actions. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness, but also the need to remind her of the dangers she’d walked into.
“Let me down, I can walk,” Joycelyn muttered, still not used to being carried like this. Her voice, though small, betrayed her discomfort with the situation, but Ellison’s hold on her remained firm.
“Someone’s coming,” Ellison said abruptly, causing her to flinch and instinctively duck her head. She pressed her face against his chest, too embarrassed to look up. It was as if the weight of the evening’s events had finally caught up to her, and she wanted to shrink away from the world for a moment.
Ellison was quick to reassure her, his voice low and serious. “Stay hidden. We’ll talk when we get home.” He moved with swift purpose, navigating the parking lot with precision. The urgency in his tone suggested that he was no longer just worried about her safety, but about controlling the situation.
Joycelyn’s frustration bubbled up again, the remnants of the alcohol still clouding her judgment. As they neared the car, she bit down on his chest—through the fabric of his shirt. Ellison winced in pain but didn’t falter. His tone was a low whisper as he scolded her. “Joycelyn, no more drinking outside.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at the sharpness of his words, and she pulled back slightly, embarrassed by the sudden bite. “I didn’t know there was alcohol in the coffee!” she shot back, a hint of indignation in her voice. Her mind briefly returned to the earlier events with Linda, realizing now that she might have been unknowingly set up.
“You were the one who was foolish enough to go to a drinking party,” Ellison continued, his voice stern, though tinged with the faintest trace of frustration. His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. It was clear he wasn’t just angry about her actions tonight—he was also worried about her judgment moving forward.
As Ellison stood still, his gaze softened momentarily as he looked down at Joycelyn, who seemed to retreat deeper into herself. She refused to meet his eyes, instead biting her lip and curling into his chest, pretending to sleep. It was her way of coping, of shielding herself from the harshness of his reproach. But Ellison wasn’t fooled.
There was a part of him that understood—this was all so new to her, so overwhelming. She had been manipulated, put in dangerous situations, and now, her vulnerability was on full display. But at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the fact that she had walked right into those traps, and it was hard for him to reconcile that.
The silence between them stretched on, the only sound being their footsteps echoing softly through the parking lot. It was clear that while they had survived the immediate danger, there was still so much left to untangle. And as much as Joycelyn wanted to push everything away, Ellison knew they needed to confront it, together.
The car door opened, and Ellison carefully placed her inside, still holding her close, as if to protect her from the weight of everything that had just happened. He could sense her withdrawal, but he didn’t force her to speak. Instead, he leaned in, his voice soft, yet resolute.
“We’ll figure this out. But, Joycelyn, you need to start trusting yourself more. And no more surprises.”
Joycelyn’s heart raced at his words. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to face everything, but with Ellison by her side, she felt a strange sense of hope. She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the night lift just a little as she relaxed in his embrace, knowing that despite everything, she was safe—for now.
