Page 54 of Bad Blood

I don’t have to think about the answer to that very long. “Yes.”

“Good, I thought so. That’s why when theybothmessaged you last night, I answered and told them you were staying over with a friend.”

I stare back at him and press my lips together. “Thanks. Why didn’t you just wake me?”

“Because I didn’t want to. It was interesting to watch you sleep. Then it was interesting to fall asleep next to you.”

I don’t know why I find that funny, but I laugh and he looks at me as if I just did the most interesting thing he’s ever seen.

“What?” I ask. “Why on earth are you looking at me like that?”

“Because that’s the first time I’ve heard you laugh.”

“It can’t be. I laugh all the time.”

“Not with me. Now I know what you sound like laughing.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks, warming me all over.

“I think I should go; you sound like you’ve lost your mind.”

“I haven’t lost my mind.”

Feeling slightly awkward, I slide off the bed and he watches me walk to the center of the room to grab my clothes.

He sits up and I can’t help but note that the just-got-out-of-bed hair he’s sporting looks sexy as fuck on him.

“What are you doing today?” He asks, smoothing his hair out of his face.

“Just stuff.” Today I’m going to the hospital for my first day of volunteering at the research center.

I would have told him, but the hospital I’m going to is where his mother used to work.

I had a brief interview the other day over the phone. I couldn’t believe the coincidence when the man I spoke to mentioned Chad’s mother as one of the people who’d helped build the center.

I had no idea before. I decided I’m not going to be working there long enough to worry about it, so I won’t.

I’ll be there for a few hours on Saturdays. It might seem pointless because I’m leaving, but I’m doing it to keep in touch with something I love. I did a few voluntary placements in L.A. This will just be one more thing to add to my resumé.

“What about you?” I decide to ask, too.

He’s always by himself. He said his father and stepmother were away, but whenever I’ve been here, I haven’t even seen any of the house staff.

He acts like it doesn’t matter, but I’m sure it must. The house is huge and I can’t imagine what it must be like being alone here.

“I’m going to New Hampshire.”

“What’s there?”

A shadow of grief washes over his face. “My mother’s grave.”

Instantly my heart sinks and I’m even more glad I didn’t tell him about where I’m going.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine. It’s a thing I do.”

“Oh, I hope it will be okay.” I stare back at him when I finish doing up the buttons on my jeans.

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