Page 84 of Play Me
Gray bends his finger at me. “Come on.”
My chest feels like someone’s holding a sparkler too close to me, and bits of hot ash are pinging my skin. I can barely think a cohesive thought. A part of me cheers my bold, brave decision, and the other part of me laments my recklessness. It’s hell to be me.
Gray opens a door and pops on the light. “After you.”
I pass him, careful not to touch him, and take in what must be his old bedroom. Posters on the walls. Trophies on shelves. A stack of books by the bed.
“This room gives Gray vibes,” I say, sitting on the edge of the mattress while he rummages in the closet. “And it looks like you really did read books.”
“Did you think I was lying?”
“Eh, kind of.”
He slides some hangers to the side. “Gee, thanks. I’m more than a handsome face, you know.”
His back muscles ripple as he moves. They’re thick and dense, with ridges and lines that I didn’t know existed in the real world. The taper from his shoulders to his waist is ridiculous.
“Yeah, I know,” I say, blushing. “Thanks for bringing me here, by the way. Not justhere, but to Sugar Creek and to see Joe. You’ve gone out of your way to be kind to me today, and I appreciate that.”
He stills but doesn’t turn around. “You make it sound like that surprises you.”
“Well, in my experience, if people do choose kindness, there are usually limitations. It’s human nature, I guess.” I laugh nervously. “I’ve made this weird, haven’t I?”
Gray pulls two shirts out of the closet and turns to me with them in his hand.
In the dim light from the ceiling fan, he looks mysterious. Shadows hide the sharpness of his features and exaggerate the ridges and valleys of his body. He’s the kind of guy who people stop and stare at. I can’t help but wonder what our relationship could’ve been like had we not gotten off on the wrong foot.
My breath hitches as he comes closer with a twinkle in his eye.
“Have you had fun?” he asks, his voice low and controlled.
“Honestly? Yeah. I have.”
“Good. Me, too.”
“Bet you didn’t think I hadfunin me, did you?” I grin and get to my feet.
He stops just inches in front of me, close enough where I could easily reach out and touch him—something my fingers itch to do.
I can hear my heart pounding and feel the rush of hot blood circulating through my veins. The intensity and warmth of his gaze draws me in, and suddenly, I’m not sure where this is going.
This is Gray Adler, my coworker. The giver of migraines.The man I … loathe. But, at this moment, he’s something else, too, and I’m afraid to put a name to it.
His dimples shine. “Believe it or not, I did think you had it in you.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.”
The room shrinks and the temperature rises so high that I’m sweating. Everything around us blurs into oblivion. It’s only Gray and me here.
My heart flutters as he offers me one of the shirts, and I reach for it, tentatively at first. But when my knuckles graze his, I melt into the contact.
The backs of my knees hit the edge of the bed, and if I rock even a bit, I’ll fall onto my back. I’m held up by a prayer and Gray’s dark, hooded eyes.
“If you didn’t hate me, I might kiss you right now,” he whispers.
He’s close enough to feel the heat of his breath. I pant, working hard to remember how to perform basic bodily functions.
