Page 3 of Someone Like You

“Don’t go.” There was something almost desperate in Brody’s voice, something strained and slightly panicked. A strong grip on my bicep stopped me mid-stride, jarring my momentum and making me stumble back into a solid wall of steel and heat.

“Let go of me,” I said, my voice hoarse. He shifted behind me, his other arm coming around. He grabbed my forearms with broad hands and long fingers, making me wrap my arms around myself as he wrapped himself around me.

“Please. Stay,” he begged softly. He moved my forearms closer together, capturing both in one hand, while the other strayed toward my ribcage. “You’re all wet. Poor baby,” he murmured, stroking along my side. His touch was light, almost delicate, maybe even reverent, and I hated that I wanted to sink into it. I hated that my first thought wasthis is safe. I fucking hated that. Becausewhat? I didn’tknowthis guy. But my brain didn’t care; it was busy making note of the gentle way he’d handled me at every point.

“We should get you out of these clothes and warm you up.” His words were slightly slurred, and I realized he must be drunk or almost there.

My demons began to rally and I started to panic, bucking against him. “Let go of me!”

He let go immediately, to his credit, and I whirled around to face him, my chest heaving. “Seriously, what thefuckis your problem, Brody?” I was seething now, my hands balled into fists as I stared at him. I pointed my finger at his chest, horrified to see that it was shaking. My entire body was trembling. “Don’t touch me. Don’t youevertouch me, you hear me?”

His eyes were everywhere, watching me fall apart, watching me shudder like a frightened lamb. All because, what, he’d grabbed me? When that light gray gaze swam back to mine, a small whimper escaped me. “You too, huh?” he whispered. There was something soft in his expression, and for whatever reason, that was my breaking point.

“Fuck this,” I chewed out, backing away from him. Refusing to turn my back on him again. “Asshole.”

I watched him shove his hands in his pockets, a frown on his face, eyes still boring into mine. There was something sad in his gaze now, and a lick of guilt came out of nowhere. I had nothing to feel guilty about, and when my feet hit the brick patio, when I smelled that cloud of weed and cigarettes and sickly sweet vape smoke, Brody unmoving where I’d left him, I turned around and pushed my way back inside.

I immediately saw Jordan standing just outside the kitchen, arms waving as he argued with one of Jamie’s other roommates, Gavin. He was a big guy, tall and muscular, and Jordan had never liked him. Said he was an ignorant douchebag, and I wasn’t surprised to find him yelling at the guy. I was about to go over there and drag Jordan away when Jamie broke them up and gestured from Gavin to the stairs, probably telling him to fuck off or something. Gavin shoulder-checked Jordan and stomped away up the stairs.

Man, fuck parties.

2

ISAAC

The next time I saw Brody, he was covered in grease and oil and looked utterly happy. It was such a jarring contrast to the first time I’d lain eyes on him that it made my heart pound wildly in my chest. It made me wonder if that first day was just a fluke, ifthiswas his normal disposition. It made me wonder what had happened to make him so angry in the first place.

It made me wonder why I was wondering so many fucking things about a guy I didn’t even know or care about knowing.

It was two weeks after Jamie’s stupid-ass birthday party, and my car had started making a concerning rattling sound. When I realized it was one of those things you couldn’t just ignore, I took it to Big Boone’s auto shop, where I came for regular oil changes. It was the first car I’d ever owned, and even though it wasn’t much to look at, it got the job done and I tried to take care of it. I’d spent three years saving up for that car, and it had been a crucial part of my independence. Plus, I needed it to get to campus. Or the grocery store. Or wherever else I wanted to go. I’d feel trapped without it.

As soon as I stepped inside the shop, I saw him. He was speaking with an older woman, using his hands to aid in whatever he was communicating to her, and there was a big smile stretching across his face. One cheek had a streak of something black running from his temple to his chin, and there was a light in his eyes that hadn’t been there that first day. His white t-shirt was stained, there was a small rip near his ribcage, and his arms were bare, letting me see the double sleeves of black and colored tattoos that covered his skin from his fingertips to his neck. He was tall and broad and long and lean and fuck me, I couldn’t look away.

I didn’t really have a type. I’d never been very interested in attracting the attention of other guys—but not because I wasn’t into them. I was. I wasveryinto guys and had been since I was eleven. I’d known, back then, that I was far from straight. But I didn’t really have a type, and after what happened to me my freshman year of high school, I tried to keep to myself. I wasn’t interested in any kind of relationship and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be.

But Brody…for whatever reason, there was something about him that made me want to get closer. He was indescribably beautiful, though maybe it was just the clear dichotomy that I was being presented with that had piqued my interest. My curious mind wanted to know what had happened that first day to make him so upset. What was making him smile now. Which one was the real Brody?

I don’t know how long I stood there, just staring at him, when a voice to my left said, “Uh, hey, can we help you?”

I jerked and turned to the woman behind the counter. She was young, maybe around my age, and had black wavy hair pulled back in a messy bun. Her jaw moved rhythmically as she chewed on what I hoped was gum and not all the heads she’d bitten off today, if her glower was anything to go by.

I strode to the counter and gave her an apologetic smile. “Yeah, sorry. I, um, there’s something wrong with my car,” I said.

Chew chew chew. “Oh yeah? What’s wrong with it?” Her eyes were a jarring silver-gray, and the resemblance to Brody was striking. I’d never seen her—or Brody—before when I dropped my car off for oil changes, but I usually did that on weekdays.

“Well, I have no idea, that’s why I’m here,” I said, trying to douse the irritation that was starting to rise.

Smack smack smack. “Okay, well?—”

“I’ve got this, Bri.”

His voice curled over my shoulders, crept under my skin, and the irritation flared anew. I felt my shoulders stiffen, and I wished I’d gone somewhere else with my car. Without turning around, I said, “I’d rather tell her, if you don’t mind.”

“He’s got you, hon.”Smack smack.Bri smiled and it was all teeth.

“Fuck my life,” I muttered under my breath, wiping my hands down my face and turning to face Brody. His lips were curved up in amusement, and my eyes were drawn to that silver ring hugging plush flesh.

“Hi, Isaac,” he murmured, and I watched as his eyes took in every inch of my face, like he was trying to memorize my features. When I felt my skin begin to burn beneath his stare, felt that hot flush creeping up my neck and searing my cheeks, I wanted to run right out the door. But I stood my ground and stared right back at him.

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