Page 115 of Cruel Steps

Was money the only reason he got a job?

Would he really be okay dating me, like Colter assumed?

What about football?

What about our parents?

How had he known about the recipes?

Why hadn’t he trusted me?

Would he pick Hope again?

The thoughts rolled and tumbled over each other in the same loop I fell into every night if I hadn’t exhausted myself enough beforehand.

“I can hear you thinking all the way over here, Wildcat. Go to sleep.”

“You go to sleep,” I mumbled and rolled over. It was easier to be angry. I didn’t think about all the what-ifs then.

“So mature.”

“Like you have room to talk,” I whispered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know what it means, Holden.” I rolled my eyes, despite the fact he couldn’t see me. The sheets moved, and it sounded like he sat up.

“Tell me. How have I upset you now?”

“Now? You make it sound like I’m unreasonable!”

“You are!”

“No. You are!”

Fabric rustled, and the air moved. I smiled, knowing I’d gotten to him if he was miming strangling me in the dark.

“You’re so infuriating. I can’t do this with you tonight. Go to sleep, Emerson.”

“Go to sleep, Holden.”

“Seriously! How does Colter put up with you?”

“Usually with his dick.”

Holden remained silent at that, and I blushed. While he knew we had sex, I hadn’t ever specifically talked about it. The sofa creaked, and I knew he was lying back down. He muttered and rolled over, punching his pillow. The sofa continued to creak with his movements, the sound growing higher pitched with each jostle. Holden seemed to shift positions again, the bed protesting with a shriek before a loud crash of metal sounded.

Jolting upright, I flicked on the lamp and froze at the sight before me. I covered my mouth, but the laughter still spilled out.

“Are you just going to laugh, or are you going to help me?” he grumbled. The sofa bed had folded upright and sandwiched Holden. Legs and arms poked out the sides, and the middle sagged.

“I don’t know. You look pretty comfortable.”

“Wildcat. Come on.” He moved, trying to press it down, but it sprung back upright each time.

I chuckled again. It was too funny. Picking up my phone, I took a picture. “Nah. I’m infuriating, remember? And you told me to go to sleep. I must obey the great Holden Adler.”

“Quit being stubborn.”

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