Page 636 of Rock Me All Night
"I'm not gonna let him fuck this up. He cares about you. Make him realize that."
"How do you know?" I ask.
"Known the man since he was thirteen. I can see past the bullshit. Tom… he's gonna see that you're pretending. Pete's real good at convincing everyone he doesn't need help. I get it cause I'm the same way."
"Is it that obvious?" I ask.
"No. Aiden said something. Doubt anyone else picked up on it. Especially given how Drew and Tom were bickering." Miles shifts his weight. "I remember how it felt, losing the only family I had left. I never thought I'd breathe again." He pulls down his shirt and points to a tattoo that saysbe brave, live. "My uncle. He was a great guy. I spiraled out of control a lot worse than Pete did. Was lucky I had people who cared about me when I hit bottom."
"I'm sorry. I'm not following."
"He told you about his tattoo?"
I nod.
"He's never told anyone about that."
"How do you know?"
"Heard him and Cindy screaming enough times to know. They fought like cats and dogs. But I get it. Sometimes, you hold onto something so long that you don't know how to let go."
The sun pokes through the window. It casts orange light over the room. It's almost evening. Already.
I can't stomach talking about this anymore. I set my laptop on the desk. "I'm going to study now. Are you going to talk to him?"
"Only about the song."
"Oh. Good."
"Mmm." He steps into the hallway. "Maybe a word about being a tease. That's no good."
My laugh diffuses the tension in my back.
Miles nods a goodbye. I settle into the desk with my assignment. But once the piano music floats into my ears, I can't concentrate for shit.
* * *
It takeshours to get through my assignment. When I finish, I hide under the pink comforter with my Kindle and a soapy YA romance. Ah, life really was so much simpler before sex complicated everything.
It wasn't better, but writing off boys made it simpler.
High school was awful. Between acing my classes, serving as editor of the school paper, and taking care of Dad and Madison, I had no free time. College offered a little more freedom, a little more time, but mostly I filled it with worry. And with Nathan.
It's late when someone finally knocks on the door. The handle turns and Pete steps into the room. The light from the moon casts highlights over his face. It's not fair how beautiful he is. It makes it harder to resist him.
"We should go," he says.
No apology. Not even a word about his ruthless teasing.
I turn my back to him. "I don't want to go."
"We're overstaying our welcome."
"Then you go." I hug my chest. It takes great effort to keep my voice strong and steady. "I'll ask Miles if he minds me spending the night."
Pete takes steps towards me. The weight on the bed shifts as he sits next to me.
His fingers graze my neck then they're back at his sides. "I'm not leaving you here alone."
