Chapter 10
He couldn't sleep. After that wild sex, he should have been exhausted and fallen asleep immediately. But his mind kept him awake. He thought about his first sight of her that evening. He had desired her almost from the first, but he hadn't realized how truly beautiful she was until tonight. No wonder every man at the fundraiser couldn't take his eyes off her.
And that was also bothering him. Handsome, young, able-bodied men were interested in her. How long before she abandoned him for one of them? Why would she want to stay with a jerk like him when she could be with someone who wasn't screwed up?
Amy cuddled closer to him. He tightened the arm that he had around her, realizing that he would have to let her go sooner or later. It may as well be sooner – the pain might be easier to bear that way. Yeah, right. Who was he kidding?
In the days that followed, House stayed at the hospital later than usual or stopped off at a bar on the way home. She always had dinner ready for him when he came home, no matter how late. She never complained to him, though she wondered what was happening. Once he was home, he stayed up late watching TV or playing the piano, waiting until she was asleep to go to bed.
Amy was a patient person, but she was worried about his behavior. Had she done something wrong? Why didn't he want to spend time with her or make love to her? After a few weeks of it, she got up the courage to confront him about it.
When he finally got home, she handed him her notebook where she had written, Please tell me what is wrong. Are you mad at me? Why don't you want to sleep with me anymore?
He knew this would come. He had wondered when she would confront him and why it had taken her so long. He had to phrase it just right.
"How long did you think this would last?"
She looked at him, perplexed.
"Come on, you had to know there was no future for us."
She made a motion with her hands.
"I don't understand what you're saying." He told her, even though he did.
She furiously wrote in her notebook in large letters I LOVE YOU!
"No, you don't. You just think you do because I'm the first man you slept with."
She pointed to the book again.
"You haven't known any guys except me. You've never even dated. If you spent any time with other guys, you'd realize that what you think you feel for me is just infatuation.
She looked murderous at him as she wrote, don't you dare discount my feelings!
"You don't even know what your feelings are. And you don't know mine."
You don't love me? Why did you sleep with me?
"You're hot and you wanted me to. Who was I to refuse an offer like that?"
She stared at him for a few moments, then turned and ran into the bedroom. He felt a little guilty about what he'd said, but it had to be done. He sat down at the piano and was just finishing a song when she came out of the bedroom. She had her jacket on and her backpack on her shoulder. She was carrying a shopping bag that held the other clothes she had gotten since she'd started working and making her own money.
He watched her head to the door and immediately got up to limp to her. She was opening the door, when he grabbed her arm. She glared at him.
"I didn't say you had to leave. You can stay."
She shook her head and went out the door. He tried to follow her, but he had left his cane by the piano and he couldn't go as fast as her. He hobbled to the outside door to see her hailing a taxi and getting in when it stopped.
Damn, he thought.
She knew that she had to tell the cab driver where to go. Thinking quickly, she pulled out one the cards that she kept in her purse with the addresses of her clients and handed it to him. She only prayed that this client was at home.
When the taxi pulled up to the house, she paid him and went to the door. She knocked and seconds later, it was answered.
Cuddy was surprised to see Amy there at this time of night. But then she saw her red-rimmed eyes and thought, damn you, House.