Page 154 of Red Zone
I freeze.
“What?”
He takes a step toward me, closing the gap, his voice soft but firm now.
“Fuck all of it. The bullshit labels. You and me? This isn’t casual anymore. Never has been to be honest, not for me.”
My breath catches, and I take a tiny step back as his hand comes up, his fingers brushing against my jaw.
“Say it’s still casual for you,” he murmurs, leaning in just enough that I can feel his breath against my lips. “And I’ll back off. Right here, right now. But don’t stand there and tell me you don’t feel what I feel.”
I open my mouth to respond—though what I’d even say, I don’t know—when the door swings open.
And a familiar, syrupy voice cuts through the tension like a knife.
“Well, well, Miss It’s Just Work,” Savannah drawls, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. “This doesn’t really look like work, does it?”
I jerk back from Carter like I’ve been burned, my cheeks flooding with heat.
But he doesn’t move.
Doesn’t even flinch.
Just stares at Savannah, his jaw tight, his hand still hovering near me like he doesn’t care who the hell sees.
And I can’t decide if I want to melt into the floor…or pull him right back to me anyway.
“It’s…it’s not what it looks like,” I blurt, my voice too tight, too fast, already backing away from Carter and Savannah before either of them can respond.
I need to get out of here.
I need air.
I spin toward the door, pushing it open into the crush of bodies outside.
But I barely make it three steps into the hallway before a warm hand closes around my wrist.
“Lyla—”
His voice.
Low, steady, pulling me back when everything in me is screaming to keep moving.
“Hey. Stop.”
I freeze, but I don’t turn around.
“Just…calm down for a second and talk to me,” he murmurs, his grip loosening but still there. “Please.”
My breath comes shallow, my fingers flexing at my sides. I can’t. Not right now. Not when everyone’s watching. Not when Savannah’s still in that kitchen smirking like she knows everything.
“Carter, I?—”
Jaxon appears in the hallway, his shoulders stiff, his jaw tight, and the second Carter sees him, his brows knit with concern.
“Damn, man,” Carter says, straightening. “What happened?”
Jaxon exhales, shaking his head, his voice rough.
