Page 77 of The Facade

“And fall to my death when I slip on a branch in the rain?” Her eyes widened. “I don’t think so.”

“It’s my favorite way to sneak into your house…” I lifted a shoulder. “But suit yourself.”

“I think I’ll take my chances with the back door.” She gestured at the door next to one of their garages.

“Taking the easy way out as always,” I said, a half-smile on my lips as she pulled me over there.

“That’s just me, I guess. Lazy-bones Hastings.”

She looked like she was going to punch in the code to unlock the door, but instead of doing that, she turned and leaned her back against the stone exterior of the house.

“Not quite ready to go inside?” I asked, leaning against the wall beside her so we were both protected from the rain.

“Not yet.” She angled her beautiful heart-shaped face up at me, which I studied carefully in the dark night. I couldn’t help but think she was the most beautiful person in the world.

And there was a huge part of me that didn’t want to say goodnight either, fearing that we’d never get such a magical night back again.

I knew we’d joked about me only using my teaching skills on her for the foreseeable future—but was that because she actually wanted to pursue a relationship with me? That she actually saw this going somewhere?

Or was it just a way to have some fun before something better came along?

I didn’t think Cambrielle would be the kind of girl to be fine having a weekend fling—she had always been a lot more intentional about things in the past.

But I really didn’t know.

I still had a lot of things to learn about Cambrielle, despite knowing her for half my life.

Which reminded me of something I’d wondered about earlier.

“What did Nash say to you after I left you guys at the school?” I asked.

“He just wanted to make sure I was being smart,” she said with a shrug.

“Yeah?” I asked, hoping she’d give me more than that.

“Yeah.” She nodded.

“And that’s all?” I prodded when she didn’t continue.

“Not quite.” She looked down at my chest instead of my face, and it made me worried.

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “I’m guessing he wanted you to be smart regarding your choices with me.”

“He thought he needed to remind me that you have a certain reputation when it comes to girls.” She let her fingers trace up the skin from my abs to my chest. “That you have a reputation for losing interest quickly—despite whatever promises you make in the moment.”

I gulped, because all of that was true. I hadn’t necessarily led girls on, on purpose. I’d meant what I’d said to them at the time. I just tended to change my mind quicker than I originally planned.

“Are you still worried about that then?” I asked, my stomach in a knot of nerves.

“Well, I’m here with you instead of sleeping in my room,” she said with a shrug, like that should explain how she felt.

“Yes, you are.”

She was staring at her fingers that were currently tracing some sort of pattern on my chest, looking like she still had more to say. So I waited.

Waited as patiently as I could even though it felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest.

Finally, she looked up again, meeting my gaze in the stormy night. “But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that part of me is scared about what’s happening here.” She sighed. “And if you’re going to change your mind tomorrow.”

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