Page 24 of The Substitute
I start to reply, but Ambrose flips around, holding a hoodie this time.
“Take it off.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me?”
“Your shirt. Off. We’re having a pajama party and getting to know each other so you have to be comfy.”
“What?” I ask.
He stares at me not saying anything.
I look at my shirt, then back at him. “What’s wrong with my shirt?”
“Because mine is better and I know how much you like over sized hoodies.” He holds out a massive hoodie that says something about hockey on it, and I shake my head. “And I think you’ll like it.”
“Absolutely not.” My cheeks heat and I hug my arms around myself.
“Why not?” He comes forward and looms over me. He’s not exactly a small man, and all those muscles have to be good for more than just playing sports ball. Sports puck? Doesn’t matter. He’s standing in our room, next to my bed, in only thin basketball shorts. And from what I can tell, he’s a shower, not a grower, because if he got any bigger, he would be a destroyer.
I like looking at hime way too much and he’s going to notice. I cannot take being rejected again. How am I going to stand looking at him shirtless for the rest of the year?
“Seriously, what is your issue with clothes?” My face is on fire, but I don’t let it stop the snark.
“They suck. If I didn’t have roommates, I would be naked twenty-four-seven.” His words make me wish he was naked and I don’t even know how to unpack that. I don’t like hockey players.
“You can do whatever you want but why do I need to change?”
“Because you’ve been in the same clothes for two days, and this is a pajama party. Duh.”
“Okay.” I reach for the hoodie but he shakes his head. “What?”
“I’m doing it for you.” He puts on knee on the bed next to me.
“Do you really want to spend time with me that badly?” I ask, unable to believe it.
“Yes. I told you why. Now, take your shirt off.”
Well, that’s both enticing and not. Is he really jealous I’m studying with Savage? What is there to be jealous about?
Probably the same shit you’re jealous of with Rhys and Teddy, you hypocrite.
That’s not exactly true.
Unless it is.
Does Ambrose have feelings for Savage? That could make this all make more sense…are they using me to get to each other? Do they have feelings for each other that they just don’t want to admit? Do I actually care?
Does Ambrose actually care? Is that why it bothers him that I spent some time with his step-brother? I doubt he actually wants anything from me. I’m a fucking disaster. He clearly doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. Everyone gets tired of me, eventually. It’s a recurring theme in my life. Once my usefulness is overshadowed by my insecurities, they leave. Every. Time.
Yet sometimes I could swear he looks at me like he wants to lick me. Or hug me. Maybe both?
“You agreed to start over.” Ambrose’s tone has dropped, and his breathing has deepened. What the hell? Is he really getting turned on by this? I’m so confused by this guy.
Did I agree? I guess I kinda did.
He shifts his weight on to the bed and leans his hands on either side of my hips. Is he giving me ‘fuck me’ eyes? Since everything went down with Rhys and Teddy, my body shut down, but apparently, it’s waking up again, and I don’t know if I should be happy or angry about it. Maybe what I need to get overit all is to get under someone else. Have some boy’s dick factory reset my brain…
“Tobi—”
