Page 126 of Wicked Games

My face heats up. We were pretty quiet, but?—

“You reek of sex,” Eli continues. “Seriously, guys. It’s kind of turning me on.”

Riley jabs him with her elbow.

I go to the boxes of pizza and ignore their chatter. I’m still tangled in a web of worry. He probably has a concussion.I just fucked a concussed person.

I don’t have an appetite. I stare down at the pizza, inhaling the scent of cheese and garlic, and my stomach turns over.

It isn’t just finding Caleb bloody and alone in his uncle’s house. It’s that plus the fact that he kissed my nose and my heart skipped a beat. It’s that Ms. McCaw visited and she asked how I was doing, and for the first time in a really freaking long time, I was able to say,Great!

We talked about long-term fostering, going to court to petition for the Bryans’ right to adopt me, the steps we’d have to take. She mentioned restarting therapy, and Robert and Lenoraagreed. Even if I’m not a hundred percent sure I want my father to give up his rights.

Do I ask?

Does someone else?

I exhale and close the lid on the pizza.

Caleb comes up behind me, one hand coming around my waist, and his hand splays over my stomach, pulling me back against him.

“Not hungry?” he asks. “After that?”

I shrug, glancing away.

Why can’t I just lean into happiness? It’s right there, begging me to take it.

“What’s wrong?” His breath hits my neck, followed by his lips.

I tilt my head to the side. His other arm comes around me, dropping the ice pack on the counter, then locking around my chest. I’m thoroughly encompassed.

“You can tell me.”

“Everything,” I whisper. “Everything’s wrong. Do you ever just feel sad for no reason?”

He twists me around, cupping my jaw and tilting my head up.

I keep my gaze on his chin.

“Margo.”

I press my lips together. My chin wobbles, though. The traitor.

“You have every reason to fall apart. It’s my fault—when you first got here, I wanted you to break. But I changed my mind.” He frowns. “Youchanged my mind. Because you’re still…”

I’m hanging on the edge of a knife.

“You’re still good. A bit devious.” He winks. “But in your heart?”

“Stop.” I push away from him.

He doesn’t let me go. His fingers dig into my neck, and he tugs me even closer. “Youstop. Don’t run away.”

I wasn’tis on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t voice it.

He releases me and grabs the box of pizza.

“I don’t think I can be vertical for much longer,” he announces to Riley and Eli.

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