Page 59 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

I crossed back to the bed. “You’re welcome. But it’ll take more than your bullshit security system and a few comments about our age difference to get rid of me.”

“Will it?” She blinked up at me.

I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Bet.”

“What does that even mean?” she murmured.

“It means I’ll be here when you wake up—if you want.”

“Yeah.” She yawned. “Promise?”

My heart swelled. “I promise.”

I whispered the last part because she was already asleep. After one last glance at her peaceful face, I walked to the door and quietly shut it behind me.

In the kitchen, Savannah hummed as she seasoned a chicken.

“She’s asleep,” I said.

“Yeah, her meds take her out,” she said. “She usually sleeps for a couple hours after.”

“She has a lot of pain?”

“It’s unpredictable. Some months, it’s mild. I’d say typical period pain. Other times, it’s agony. And it can flare up around ovulation too.” She winced. “Sorry. That’s probably TMI.”

“I care about her. I want to know about her pain and her condition, including her periods.”

Savannah stared at me for a second. Then she put her arms around me and pulled me into a surprisingly strong hug. “I like you.”

“Thanks?” I relaxed into the hug.

With one last squeeze, she released me. “I mean, I like you for Tessa. She deserves a man who loves everything about her.”

“I do.” I’d needed that. The hug and her words. “I love everything about her. But she doesn’t feel the same.”

“Doesn’t she?” Savannah’s blond eyebrows tucked up under her hair.

“She told me not to fall for her,” I mumbled.

“Was that for her sake or yours?”

“Does it matter?”

“I think it does. Use that smart brain of yours.” She picked up the pepper again and shook it over the chicken.

Why would Tessa tell me not to fall in love with her if not to protect me and my fragile heart? Unless she was protecting her own heart.

She’d told me about that dickhead, Harry, and how he’d ruined her company. She hadn’t mentioned how she’d felt about him. Had she loved him before he’d broken her trust?

“I’d never betray her,” I said.

“I think that’s true. But does Tessa? She’s got some, like, baggage around romantic relationships. I know I’m the dumb one of our friend group, but I know about that guy who screwed her over at Red Rover. And I met her dad. She’s got trust issues for sure. Did you know our friend group had never been to her house until a couple months ago? Except for me.” She puffed out her chest. “And now you.”

“You think I have a chance?”

“You’re here, aren’t you? Inside her fortress. She’s taken us both in. Like that little jerk.” She pointed at my feet, where Hedy Lamarr rubbed her face on my pants, leaving a smudge of orange and white hair.

“Have you seenE.T.?”

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