Page 24 of Concealed

Or something.

Is it so bad to want to be normal for a while?

When I return to the living room, Wyatt is sprawled on the couch scrolling through his phone. He’s such a big man that he takes up the whole thing, and there is just something so commanding about his presence that it’s like he fills the whole room.

He stops mid-scroll, glances up at me, and then looks back down at the screen. In the funniest double-take I’ve ever seen, his eyes pop back up and land square on my chest. Maybe he’s already so used to me dressing like a bum that he didn’t realize I owned any clothes with shape.

Wyatt opens his mouth to say something at the same time the phone slides from his hand and crashes to the floor with a thud.

“Sorry,” he says.

But he doesn’t remove his gaze from my body. In fact, he rakes it up and down a few times, sending a few unfamiliar and delicious shivers jolting along my spine.

Checkmate.

When he stands up, I suddenly lose all my nerve and quickly look at my feet. “Ready to go?” I ask softly.

“Uh, yeah, for sure.”

He bends to pick up his phone, and my eyes jump to his tight ass. Damn, the man is really divine and so freaking gorgeous.

“We can walk to the boardwalk from here.” His voice is a rumble, and he clears his throat, though it doesn’t help. “Unless you want to drive down and walk from there?”

“I’m good to walk the whole way.”

He nods and gestures for me to lead the way toward the door. Clearly, he doesn’t like people behind him, even if they’re just a quarter of his size. Or maybe he thinks of me as just another battered woman, and he wants to be sure he can protect me.

Even though it’s what I technically am, it’s not how I want to think of myself – not anymore. I was always a strong, confident, and outgoing girl who was the first to laugh and last to leave a party.

Matt caught me in an extremely vulnerable headspace after I found out my long-term boyfriend was cheating on me. And after Matt swept me off my feet, he extinguished everything that I love about myself, but surely, I can light the flame again.

When my sandals touch pavement and the sun hits my skin, a contented sound escapes my lips, and I turn to catch Wyatt grinning at me.

“A little nicer than being inside, huh?” he asks.

“Definitely,” I agree.

The walk to the boardwalk is uneventful because most of the locals are at work and most of the tourists are at the beach. It isn’t nearly as packed as I imagine it gets on the weekend or after the nine to fivers are off for the day.

But there are still so many people that I immediately get nervous.

It’s so easy to be invisible in crowds.

My eyes scan all the people, searching for the familiar face that still gives me nightmares. And then I start imposing Matt’s face on every stranger with a similar body type. But I’m just being paranoid.

He isn’t here.

Why would he be?

“Hey,” Wyatt says softly. “You’re shaking. Do you want to go back home?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. I just…”

He casually takes my hand, acting like it’s the most natural thing in the world. His touch immediately sets me at ease, and I let out a shaky breath. I squeeze his fingers, my way of saying thanks.

“I’ve got you,” he promises.

It’s probably not common for roommates to hold hands while walking along the boardwalk, but nothing about my current situation is typical. Besides, Wyatt’s hand is big, warm, and solid, and I don’t want to let go.

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