Page 69 of Play With Me
Everything that I thought I knew has changed, and now I’m forced to reckon with it.
I must doze off because someone is shaking me awake.
“Myles. Myles. Hurry. He’s here.”
Desiree is jostling me so roughly that I nearly fall off the bed, and I groan, picking myself up and brushing a hand through my hair.
“Who’s here?”
“Him. The man we hate, but also kinda love…” I cock my head, my heartbeat thumping in my ears. “You just need to see him.”
I push past her and make my way to the front room, seeing my mom in her robe first, her head bowed low as she speaks with him.
Colton. He’s here.
I can sense him before I see him.
And then my eyes make contact, and I inhale sharply.
His eye is black and blue, and there’s a cut on his bottom lip. He looks tired and worn. Like he hasn’t slept.
Like he’s broken.
My eyes roam down his wet clothes, and I wonder if he walked here. I mean…how the hell did he get here, or better yet, how did he know where my mom lives?
“Colton,” I whisper and move toward him, my hands reaching out to touch him before I stop myself. He hurt me.
He kissed someone else.
My hands fall to my sides, and he winces.
“Hey, Myles,” he says, his voice rasping. “Sorry to just show up like this. I…” He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “I didn’t know what else to do. Shit, I didn’t even bring my stuff. I just ran.”
“Of course you are welcome here, sweetheart,” my mom coos. “Come on in. Myles, get him a change of clothes. Maybe a hot shower. I’ll put on the kettle.”
I want to argue, but Colton shivers, and my body propels me forward.
“Come on,” I say, nodding toward the hallway.
I can hear him following me, and my stomach churns. In excitement and trepidation. Why is he here?
“You’re probably wondering how I found out where you were…”
“Don’t really care,” I murmur as I open a door to my left, the small bathroom we all share. “Go on. Shower. Towels are under the sink. I’ll leave you some clothes on the counter.”
I try to move around him, but he stops me, a hand on my hip. I can feel his touch through my shirt.
“Myles, let me explain. You have no idea…” He clears his throat, and his eyes close. “You have no idea.”
My throat thickens, and I nod.
“Fine. Shower first.”
He looks relieved as he turns to close the bathroom door, and when it locks, I lean against the wall, listening as the water turns on.
Fuck. What don’t I know?
And why am I going to let him explain?
