Page 223 of Tell Me Something True

No more touching, she amended as she stepped back, giving him plenty of room to pick up his boot.

He’d obviously gotten his fill of her when she’d been plastered on top of him.

Her cheeks heated. Ugh. She’d climbed the boy like a tree, had been wrapped around him like a vine.

It was just one humiliation after another with him.

Embarrassment and regret swamped her. Put her in a full body sweat. She pinched the loose fabric between her breasts and tugged it away from her body, waving it, trying to create a cooling breeze.

Mistakes were made, okay?

At least she hadn’t kissed him.

And no, it didn’t matter that she’d wanted to. All that mattered was that she hadn’t.

Even if she had been about to let him kiss her.

But that was all in the past. Water under the bridge she was going to build herself so she could just get over it already.

Which was going to be much easier to do once the boy wasn’t in her room, on her bed, struggling to put his freaking boots on.

His jaw was tight, his face etched in pain as swiped up the boot. Winced as he tugged it on, then repeated the tight jaw, etched pain, wincing thing with the second boot.

She shifted as she waited. Crossed her arms. Uncrossed them.

But he didn’t tie them. Just slowly straightened, his breathing deep and careful, like someone trying their best not to puke.

What if he tripped on a lace and hurt himself even more? What if the boots flopped off his feet while he was walking? He’d never be able to bend over and get them back on from a standing position. What if he really did want her help, but was too stubborn to ask for it?

Great. Now her heart was trying to overthrow her hormones for the title of Dumb Decision Maker.

Well, it wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t her fault he was stubborn and emotionally ill-equipped to deal with whatever messed up thing was between them.

Reed was a big boy. He’d manage to get from her room to his truck and then wherever he went next without tying his boots. He’d survive.

But then he slowly stood, swaying slightly, grimacing mightily, and she couldn’t, in good conscience, let it go.

With a sigh and another eye roll, she stepped forward.

Then knelt at his feet.

She could feel his gaze on her. Sensed his surprise. She just chose to ignore them. Hey, she’d been ignoring her common sense and pride all summer. A few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

Eyes on the task at hand, she readjusted the tongue of his boots, tightened the laces, then wound the ends around the bottom two sets of eyelets before tying them in a neat bow.

Then double knotted them.

Just to be safe.

She was repeating those actions on the other boot when he spoke, his words a low, hesitant grumble as if he didn’t want to disturb this lovely little silence they had going on.

“When do you leave?”

“Usually the same time as Urban.”

Though today she’d have to make up an excuse as to why she was leaving later so she could make sure Reed got out without anyone seeing him.

Reed cleared his throat. “When do you leave Mount Laurel?”

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