Page 39 of Only With You

I pull my hair tie off and throw it on the nightstand. I rake my fingers through my hair, sighing with relief as the pressure eases off. Then I grab the water and take a sip, but chug it because I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until now.

Licking my lips, I go to set the empty bottle down, but he takes it from my hand. Swallowing down my pride, I say, “Thank you for the ride and the water.”

With a curt nod, he walks out, leaving me feeling bemused. I don’t think too much of it, though, because another yawn escapes me. Exhaustion is creeping up and I’m slowly starting to lose the will to move.

As I get off my bed, I hear the front door shut and sigh with relief. Him being here was getting weird and I’m not sure how to feel about it.

I head into the bathroom, brush my teeth, and do a semi-decent job of taking my makeup off. There’s still a bit of mascara and eyeliner smudged beneath the rim of my eyes, but I’m too exhausted to care to take it off.

Next, I go to take off my top, but I struggle to grab the knot at my back.

“Why does it seem like you’re always struggling?” he remarks, clicking his tongue.

I gasp in fright. “What the hell? I thought you had left.”

“You left your bag in my car.” My shoulder bag hangs from his fingers. “I didn’t want you to accuse me of theft. I’m sure you’d love to do that.”

I march up to him and take my bag. “No, I wouldn’t.”

“Sure,”

I’d roll my eyes if I wasn’t too tired. “Thanks for everything. You know where the door is.”

I turn my back on him and set my purse on the shelf where the others sit.

“I’m not leaving,” he states.

“What do you mean you’re not leaving?”

“You’re drunk,” he says as if that should be enough of an explanation.

“I’m fine now. I don’t need you to stay.”

“I’m staying, so get over it because I’m not leaving.”

I hate to admit this to myself, but a little part of me feels relieved.

Arching a brow, I fold my arms over my chest. “Is this supposed to be another one of your good deeds of the year?”

He copies me, crossing his arms against his chest. “Something like it.”

I gauge his expression and wait for him to say he’s messing with me, and that he’ll leave, but that never happens. I debate whether I should kick him out, but he’s looking at me like I should know it’s going to be nonnegotiable.

Sighing, I drag my hair over my shoulder and turn around. “Fine, and since you like to be so helpful, help me untie this.”

Might as well put hiskindnessto good use before it wears off. Who knows how long it’ll last, and I really don’t want to sleep with this top on.

I look over my shoulder at him, but he’s not looking at me but rather my back. Landon’s expression is unreadable, and fora moment, I think he’s going to walk away. But he surprises me when he drops his arms and cuts the space between us.

He stands behind me, almost as close as he was when we were at the alley.

“Consider this mylastgood deed of the year.”

“Yeah, yeah, no more helping me. Got it.” I mock salute and turn around.

I feel the heat of his hands at my back, and when he grabs the knot, I suck in a breath. I don’t know why I do that, but I tell myself to breathe, because I’m hardly able to keep my balance. I haven’t taken my heels off yet, and any moment now, I’m sure my legs will give out on me.

He grumbles something under his breath and tugs on the knot hard. “Who tied this?”

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