Page 116 of The Roommate Remodel

Brax has always kept his dresser completely bare, like everyother surface in the room. This is a new and puzzling addition, one that makes me wonder if he still cares about me.

“Looks like a nice place,” Chad says.

“It is,” I answer. I’m so distracted by the picture I don’t notice Chad behind me.

When I turn around, he’s moved closer to me.Too close.

“What are you doing?” I ask, stepping away from him.

“Nothing,” he says, but he doesn’t stop moving toward me.

There’s something about this guy that feelsoff.

Stepping back, I bump into the dresser and freeze, my body buckled down by a paralyzing panic I’m all too familiar with.

There’s no place to go.

The door of the room suddenly flies open, and Brax storms in with a look of murder on his face. He grabs Chad by the collar and slams him so hard that the man’s glasses fall off.

With his fist against his neck, he pins him against the wall as Chad’s face reddens.

“If you ever threaten her again, you will regret it. Do you understand me?” he says in a voice that gives me chills.

Chad nods as he gasps for air, and Brax loosens his grip just enough so he can breathe.

The man sputters and coughs, then asks, “What’s she to you?”

Brax shoves his forearm against Chad’s chest, pinning him to the wall again.

He narrows his eyes. “She’smine,” he growls.

Then he grabs the back of his collar and throws him out the door.

As Chad races down the stairs, Brax yells, “Nevercome back.”

When I finally hear the door slam, I let out a shaky breath, the vise around my chest finally releasing.

I slump against Brax’s dresser, weak with shock and relief. Brax wheels around, his eyes darting to me. His expression shifts from anger to something different—frantic worry.

He crosses the room in a few strides and sweeps me into hisarms. He knows I can’t stand on my own right now, and because I’m so weak, I can’t fight him. I don’t even want to.

I let him cradle me in his arms and nuzzle my face into his chest as his hands find my back and stroke gently. I’m still breathing hard, even though the panic is gone.

Brax feels like everything I need right now.My safe place.

He rests his cheek against my head and whispers, “Are you okay? Tell me he didn’t hurt you.”

I shake my head, staying in his arms. “I’m okay. Just shaken.” I try to fight the emotions churning inside me, the fear from what happened and the worry that Brax will leave me alone. Now that his arms wrap around me, this is the only place I want to be. Right here, in the safety of his arms.

“Why did you come back?” I ask, looking into his eyes.

“I forgot something. When I walked inside, I heard you ask him what he was doing. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right.” He shifts back to look me over, sliding his hands to my arms. “I need to make sure he didn’t hurt you.” Then he searches my face, and I see the concern in his eyes.

“He didn’t hurt me,” I assure him.

“I saw the way he looked at you,” he says. “I should have punched him in the face.”

He’s jealous?How is that possible?

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