Heat creeps into my cheeks, warming me all over.
“I think I should go; you sound like you’ve lost your mind.”
“I haven’t lost my mind.”
Feeling slightly awkward, I slide off the bed and he watches me when I go over to the center of the room to grab my clothes.
He sits up, and I can’t help note that the just-got-out-of-bed-hair he’s sporting, looks sexy as fuck on him.
“What are you doing today?” he asks, smoothing his hair out of his face.
“Just stuff.” Today I’m going to the hospital for my first day of volunteering at the research center.
I would have told him, but the hospital I’m going to is where his mother used to work.
I had a brief interview the other day over the phone. I couldn’t believe the coincidence when the man I spoke to mentioned Chad’s mother as one of the people who helped build the center.
I had no idea before. I decided I’m not going to be working there long enough to worry about it, so I won’t.
I’ll be there for a few hours on Saturdays. It might seem pointless because I’m leaving, but I’m doing it to keep in touch with something I love. I did a few voluntary placements in L.A. This will just be one more thing to add to my resumé.
“What about you?” I decide to ask too.
He’s always by himself. He said his father and stepmother were away, but whenever I’ve been here, I haven’t even seen any of the house staff.
He acts like it doesn’t matter, but I’m sure it must. The house is huge, and I can’t imagine what it must be like being alone here.
“I’m going to New Hampshire.”
“What’s there?”
A shadow of grief washes over his face. “My mother’s grave.”
Instantly my heart sinks, and I’m even more glad I didn’t tell him about where I’m going.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s fine. It’s a thing I do.”
“Oh, I hope it will be okay.” I stare back at him when I finish doing the buttons up on my jeans.
“It will. See you Monday here again. It’s car wash day.” He nods, and I roll my eyes at him. “Green bikini this time.”
“Okay, boss.”
Is it wrong to like something that’s so wrong for you but makes you feel good in the most twisted way possible?
That’s how I feel about him.
And that’s exactly it—the point.
Chad makes me feel alive.
SIXTEEN
Chad
By the time Monday came,I was like a vicious, hungry dog.