Page 45 of Under My Skin
There’s a soft knock on the doorframe, and my head snaps up, guilt warming my cheeks like he might be able to read my filthy thoughts.
“I brought you water.”
Taking the cool glass from his hand, I look up at him and feel like he’s more of a puzzle than ever. “Thanks.”
“I figured the last thing you need is to wake up with a headache tomorrow. You’re going back to your parents’ house, right?” He appraises me with a tilt of his head.
The reminder feels like a splash of cold water. I make a point to smile and lighten my tone. Anything to hide the fact that I was definitely picturing him having his way with me for far too long. “Yeah, I still have to go through my room.” Another sobering reminder.
He nods. “And when are you leaving again? Monday?”
That was the plan originally, but something in my gut wants me to say no. What would I be rushing back to? My apartment is probably a disaster, and everything here with my parents still feels unfinished. I doubt I’ll be able to tie up all the loose ends tomorrow alone. I should have spent more time there today, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I force a small smile. “Why? Already counting down the days until you’ll get your bed back?”
The corner of his mouth quirks. “No. I like that you’re in my bed.” I arch my eyebrows, and my reaction makes him hold up a hand before rubbing it over his face. “I just meant I like that you’re here. And you can use my bed as long as you want.”
Laughter bubbles in my throat as I say, “Thanks.” Then remembering to actually answer, I add, “I don’t know how long I’ll stay. I thought I’d visit only for the weekend, but I’m not sure it will be enough time. We’ll see. Maybe a few more days.”
“Your boss won’t mind?”
I take a sip of water before answering. “I run my own business.”
His eyebrow kicks up in surprise. “No shit?”
I fight a smile at his response and bring the glass to my lips again. “No shit,” I confirm before taking another sip.
“Good for you,” he says, and the thought of impressing him warms something inside me.
Before my cheeks turn a shade darker, I take another sip.
“No boyfriend to get back to?”
His tone was casual, but I almost choke on my water. “No,” I say coughing. “Definitely not.”
He huffs a laugh. “You answered that pretty fast.”
“Haveyoutried dating lately? Every date I’ve been on this year has just confirmed that there’s something better I could have done with my time.” Realization hits, and I clap a hand over my mouth. “Oh my god. Do you have a girlfriend?” The words come out muffled, but I can’t bring myself to move my hand away from my mouth and ask again more clearly. What if he has a girlfriend? Of course he’d have a girlfriend. Look at him. And here I am, trying to feel him up on the back of his motorcycle.
“No,” he says, taking a seat on the edge of the bed like he had before. “No girlfriend. Not for a while now.”
Slowly lowering my hands, I remind myself to breathe. “How?” The word slips out without warning, and it takes everything in me not to clap my hands over my mouth again.
His lips lift in amusement. “How?” He shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m not really good at opening up to people.”
My eyebrows pinch. I mean, it’s impossible for me to know how much he’s not sharing with me, but I wouldn’t call Everett overly guarded. “You seem pretty open.”
“Yeah. Well, you’re . . .” He frowns. “I don’t know why I tell you things, honestly.”
I pause at his admission. Maybe it’s that vague sense offamiliarity. I feel it around him, too. It’s like, even though we haven’t known each otherwell,there’s still an element of trust.
“You had the same girlfriend for a while, didn’t you?” I’m not sure why I bring it up. I don’t know anything about her—not even her name. But Simon would often reference “Everett and his girlfriend.” I never even thought twice about Everett being with someone, but as I sit here with him now, I’m definitely thinking about it. Did she break his heart? Did he break hers? Have they both moved on?
Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighs. “Yeah. After my dad died, I had trouble prioritizing relationships. My dad was excited for me to open the shop, so that’s what I threw myself into. It made me feel closer to him, and since he was the one I wished I could spend more time with, everyone else sort of fell to the wayside.” His eyes flick to meet mine, and there’s a fresh vulnerability behind them.
“Makes sense,” I say quietly.
His shoulders relax. “Yeah? Some people didn’t think so.” He shakes off the thought. “I don’t know. The less they understood, the less I wanted to be around them. I know no one wants to be around someone who’s down all the time, but I couldn’t be myself, and it was too exhausting to put up a front.”
