Page 73 of From Best Friend to Bride
A scuffling noise came from the direction of our door, and I froze. Fred twitched beside me, and a rough thump followed it.
We both sat up and stared at the door.
“What the…”
“Shh.” I clambered up onto my knees and covered his mouth with my hand.
Another shuffling noise came, and it was followed by an all-too-familiar chuckle.
Oh, no.
Our grandmothers were spying on us.
Those fucking perverts.
Fine. Nana I could understand, but Granny? Granny who was in on the scam?
How could she do this to me?
Fred’s eyes widened as he seemingly drew the same conclusion I’d arrived at, and I mouthed, “I’m sorry,” to him.
He pulled my hand from his face as I called out, “Fred! Eek, stop!”
His hand covered the lower half of my face as he looked at me with mild horror, and I grabbed his wrist, then yanked his hand from my mouth.
“No, what are you—ahhh!” I collapsed onto the bed so dramatically that it squeaked.
He stared at me.
“No, I’m sorr—mmph!” I pressed my forearm against my mouth as if my words had been cut off with a kiss.
Realisation dawned on him.
Seriously.
I swear I even saw the little cartoon lightbulb pop up over his head.
He squeezed his face up into a pained expression, then got on his hands and knees and bounced. The bed squeaked under his weight, and he looked so horribly awkward I had to stop myself laughing out loud.
“Deli, get back here!”
I jumped off the bed and stomped on the floor. “Ha, no!” I called back, finally letting myself laugh a little. “Stop chasing me, you animal! Ahh!”
He did the same thing I’d just done. “Almost…” He pointed towards the door, and I nodded.
I ran in its direction, and he followed me, reaching for me. The rug slipped against the wooden floor, taking Fred with it. Instinctively, I stepped forwards and snatched his hand, yanking him in my direction to keep him on his feet. The sudden sway ofmomentum caught him off guard and he collapsed against me, pushing me against the door with his body pressed against mine. He moved just in time to cup the back of my head, and his hand took the brunt of the hit instead of my skull.
“You’re mine now,” Fred said into my ear, just loud enough that they could certainly hear it outside.
One of the grandmas squeaked from the other side of the door, but all I could hear was the thudding of my heart against my ribs.
“Go, go!” was the whisper that came through the door, followed by the telltale sound of them hobbling off down the hallway.
Fred was right there.
His Adam’s apple was directly in my line of sight despite the darkness, and as he swallowed and it bobbed, I did the same thing. His broad shoulders seemed to stretch out as if they were a shield for me, and I’d never felt tinier than I did in this moment.
I wasn’t even short, but the way he was against me, almost arching over me, cradling my head despite the pain he must have been feeling, made me feel like he was wrapped all around me protectively.
