Page 22 of Unwrap Him

He spins slowly, his eyes dark with a weighted glare. “Who’s the parent here? Me, or you?”

I can’t help how that question makes me fumble. “I… I don’t…”

“You don’t what?” He lifts an accusatory brow, clasping the mug between his hands.

Letting out a strong sigh, I stand up. Time to take on a different approach here.

Maybe I just need to give him some assurance that last night didn’t happen because I’m harboring misguided feelings for him, even if it is a bold-faced lie.

“Well, I’m gonna eat. And then I’m going out.” I fold my arms over my chest, ignoring how hard my heart is banging beneath them.

He looks momentarily stunned but covers it up quickly with a scowl. “Going out? Where?”

“This guy I’ve been dating invited me over his place to hang out,” I force myself to project, hopefully disguising the shake that wants to take over my voice. “That’s why I made so much dessert. I’m bringing some over for his family.”

It’s only ninety percent lie. Tanner definitely texted me earlier for a booty call, which obviously has nothing to do with his family. And I wasn’t considering it whatsoever until things became insufferable in this house.

The emotions on James’s face are locked up tight. Resentment in his eyes is swallowing up the confusion, and all I’m getting is an angry glare made up of more flames than the fire behind him.

“You haven’t mentioned any guy,” he grumbles, jaw ticking visibly through his words. “I asked you last night if you were dating anyone and you said no.”

“I didn’t say no.” I stand my ground, riding this stupid excuse straight to hell. “I said not much. We aren’t exclusive or anything… It’s just fun.”

Okay… That look is a little scary.

His eyes are black, lined with a fury that seems to be puzzling him even more than it is me, as he grips the mug in his hands so hard it looks like it could crack down the middle.

“Fun…” he breathes the word like a threat, then cocks his head to the side. “Absolutely not.”

I can’t help how my brows zip together. “Excuse me?”

“You’re not going anywhere,” he states, as casually as telling someone the time. “It’s Christmas. You’re staying right the fuck here, where you belong. With your family.”

That word, family, has an awful lot of bite to it for something theoretically positive.

Gawking at him like he’s lost his mind, my mouth hangs open in perplexity as he lifts the mug to his lips. He takes a sip, all the while eyeing me over the rim, almost as if he’s daring me to protest.

I have no idea what’s going on here. I thought lying about my relationship and suggesting I leave him alone would help the situation. Give him the out he so clearly wants. But now he’s telling me no…

He wants me to stay?? In this bubble of suffocating awkward tension??

Now I’m really lost.

“I just figured I’d give you some space,” I grumble. “After…”

My voice dissolves when his eyes widen, pleading with me not to mention it, while simultaneously imploring me to clear the air.

But I’m too much of a coward to go there first. I’m fucking terrified, shaking down to my bones. “You clearly don’t want me here. Christmas or not…”

“What would make you think that?” He blinks, sipping once more.

Don’t make me fucking say it… “Look, I just… I don’t know what to say. So I’m gonna go—”

“Hang out with your boyfriend?” He hisses, eyes narrowing into slits.

I gulp. “He’s not my boyfriend…”

“Right. It’s just fun.” He places the mug down on the table with a thunk. “But I said no. You’re fucking staying, Jesse. End of discussion.”

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