Page 31 of I Would Stay Forever
“A very small towel.”
“So youdidlook.”
“Well, I…” he trailed off, probably realizing what a corner he’d backed himself into. “Okay, maybe I caught a quick glance. But like you said, you’re not really naked, so it’s fine!”
I groaned and pulled the towel even tighter, even though I knew it wasn’t helping anything. Of course, I was using the smallest towel I owned—one that barely covered my chest and butt at the same time and couldn’t wrap fully around my body, leaving a strip of skin visible along the side of my stomach and hip. God, how much had he seen?
“Well, now that I’ve sufficiently embarrassed myself for the day,” I said, “could you please leave?”
“I would except I don’t know where to look.”
“Try anywhere but here!”
He did a half-turn so he was facing Ainsley’s bedroom. That was fine by me, because my room was directly across from hers,meaning his back was to me as I shuffled toward my bedroom door.
“I really am sorry,” he offered as I reached my room. “I was just trying to return your shirt, I swear.”
“I’m sure you were,” I said. It probably sounded like I was doubting him, but I meant it genuinely. I really doubted he had some grand evil scheme about trying to catch me right out of the shower. But this being an accident didn’t make it any less embarrassing. I grabbed my waffle-knit bathrobe from where it was hanging from the hook on my bedroom door and pulled it on quickly. I’d decided not to bring it with me when I showered because I thought it was too warm out to bother wearing it, especially when I was home alone anyway.
I’d never make that mistake again.
“Okay, I’m decent,” I said, once I was sure the bathrobe was actually done up fully. “So you can open your eyes andleave.”
“You’re not a very good host, you know that?” He turned around to face me, blinking his eyes rapidly like he was struggling to adapt to the natural light again. “Practically rushing me out the door.”
“Probably because I didn’t invite you,” I said, crossing my arms.
“Like taking my shirt yesterday wasn’t a secret ploy to get to see me again.” He held out my shit and I took it, pulling my hand away again as quickly as I could to minimize contact.
“Need I remind you that you practically insisted on it?”
“Yeah, because you were so eager to go walking around in your bra.” He raised an eyebrow. “Though now that I think about it, this is the second time in two days that I’ve seen you half-naked. Trying to make a move on me, Novak? Because all you’ve got to do is ask.”
I scoffed. “As if I’d ever wantyou.”
Before he could respond, the front door opened downstairs and we both froze. If that was Sebastian and he came up here, I had no idea how I could possibly explain this one away. It seemed like neither of us breathed for a full thirty seconds as we waited.
“Lavender, could you come help me?” Mum’s voice came from downstairs. I sighed in relief.
“I’ll be there in a minute!” I called back. “I’m just getting dressed.”
Dean started walking toward the stairs, casual as can be and not looking nearly worried enough. I grabbed his arm and tugged him backwards.
“Don’t let her see you!” I hissed.
Dean looked confused. “Why not? I’m over here all the time.”
“Not when Sebastian isn’t here and not when I’m looking like this.” I gestured at my bathrobe. The almost-conversation I’d had about safe sex with my mother was enough for me, I didn’t need to have another one where she thought I was sneaking boys over when she wasn’t home. “Just… give me a minute, okay? I’ll distract her and then you sneak out the side door.”
Dean’s brows furrowed but he nodded. I shut myself in my room for just long enough to pull on a tank top and shorts, then ran downstairs, my wet hair hitting my back with every step. I found Mum in the kitchen, putting containers in a basket.
“Can you grab whatever drinks you’ll want for the day?” she asked, gesturing toward the fridge. I nodded and opened the fridge door, but instead of grabbing drinks, I kept my eyes trained on the hallway. The stairs had some creaky spots, but I guess Dean had been over here enough to learn which ones were loud because he made it down without a sound. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, waiting until I gestured him forward to dart toward the side door. It would have been faster for him to go out the front door, but infinitely louder as well. Luckily, Mum wascompletely engrossed in what she was doing and didn’t notice him at all, but I still didn’t breathe again until I heard the door shut behind him.
I guess I’d officially snuck a boy out of the house for the first time.
sixteen
Once the shockof both seeing Dean in my house then having to sneak him out of my house had worn off, the true embarrassment of the situation had sunk in.Dean saw me fresh out of the shower in a towel. It was horrifying.
