Page 39 of Stick Work

Yeah, I’m totally misreading this. His touch, not to mention the way he laughs with me, like it’s meant just for me sometimes messes me up. I have to remember it’s just part of the charade. Though, then there’s the way he looks at me, the way his touch lingers. I’m just not sure sometimes. Anyway, he’s probably going to want to sext me while he’s away.

It has to be that.

Because the alternative?

We can’t go there.

I reach for my door, but before I can step out, he turns, his hand hesitating on his own handle. Something outside, something moving beneath the streetlight, catches his eye. His sudden grip on my arm startles me, pulling my gaze from the street. My heart quickens as I follow his line of sight. That’s when I realize it’s not something moving under the light, it’s someone. But who? A figure steps into view, and Elias sucks in a sharp breath.

“What’s going on?” I whisper, but he doesn’t answer.

He pulls his hand away and presses both to his forehead, fingers massaging his temples, as though willing the moment away. The woman walks past, and an uncomfortable silence sits between us. I wait, sensing the war raging within him. Finally, as the coolness of the car begins to seep into my skin, he exhales shakily and reaches for his door.

“We should go inside,” he says softly.

“Really? That’s it?” I stare at him, incredulous. “You’re not going to tell me what just happened?”

“Taylor…” He shakes his head. He doesn’t want to tell me, and that really stings.

“Elias,” I counter. “I thought we promised to be honest with each other. Isn’t that what you said? Back in your bedroom? That I could tell you anything?”

A beat passes. His eyes meet mine, and they’re heavy with regret. “You’re right. I just... I didn’t think this was something you needed to know.”

“If it upsets you this much,” I murmur, my voice softening, “then it’s definitely something I need to know.”

His gaze lingers, searching, as though weighing whether to let me in. “Yeah?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I…” The word sticks in my throat, the weight of it pressing down on me. “I care about you.”

The confession does something to him. His features soften, a warm tenderness moving across his face as his hand finds mine again. It curls around my heart and tugs tight. Oh man, what is going on with me? Is my period just around the corner? Jeez, I’ve lost all track of time with travel, school, helping my brother and…Elias.

What is he doing to me?

“That was Cami,” he confesses quietly, and I sit in silence. “She was my ex and what I didn’t know was that she had an agenda.” He glances at me, and I give a small, supportive nod. He snorts out a humorless laugh. “She wanted to get married. The house, the kids, the SUV, the whole nine yards.”

“You didn’t want that.”

“No, and when I told her I wasn’t ready, she wanted revenge. She sold some pictures.” He shakes his head and groans. “Pictures I didn’t know she’d taken.” A long moment of quiet. “Of me and her…” He glances at me and I nod, totally understanding him not wanting to say the words. “…and she sold them to the paparazzi.”

I blow out a slow breath. “I didn’t know.”

“It happened last year. Before you moved here. My parents weren’t too happy, to say the least.”

“I can’t imagine they were.”

“They want to see me settled down. It’s good for the family image, but they didn’t trust my judgement after that.”

“Which is why they’ve been setting you up with women from their world.”

“Yup.”

“But me. You thought they’d trust me?”

“You were open and honest with them, Taylor. I guess that’s all they ever wanted.”

“But I wasn’t, Elias.” My stomach squeezes so tight I think I might be sick. “I lied to them about us.”

“I’m so sorry I dragged you into all this.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “We’ll plan a breakup after Easton’s wedding. They won’t be happy, but at least they won’t be trying to set me up during my buddy’s nuptials, and…”

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