Page 5 of Unwrap Him

“Thanks, kid,” he murmurs, sipping from the bottle.

Kid. Yea… That’s what I am. His fucking son… Forever a child in his eyes.

I barely even notice I’m shivering so hard, teeth chattering, until he grunts, “You want me to start a fire?” He nods toward the fireplace across the living room.

“Uh… no.” My voice scrapes, and I clear my throat. “I’m fine.”

“Good, ’cause it’s actually pretty warm in here,” he huffs.

My side-eye takes in the sight of him, watching the TV and ignoring my fidgets. He’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt, nowhere near as bundled as I am, and clearly, he’s comfortable. The lines of his wide chest, broad shoulders and thick arms are visible beneath the material, prompting me to tug my lower lip between my teeth.

I’m not cold either, James… Actually, I’m burning the fuck up.

Scolding myself internally, I decide to take on a new tactic for distraction, something that’s proven effective in the past. Prying into his heavily-guarded armor.

“So what happened with Leslie?” I rest my head on the back of the couch, eyes locked on the television screen.

“Nothing.” His deep voice rumbles at my side, giving me even more chills.

“That doesn’t sound right,” I keep poking. “Two years and it just ends? There’s gotta be a reason.”

He stays silent for a few lingering moments, swallowing a long pull from the bottle before he finally answers, “I don’t think I’m in love with her…”

My stomach clenches. “You don’t think?”

His eyes shift to mine for a split second. “No. I’m… not. I never have been.”

“Why not?”

“What’s with the third degree, kid?” He narrows his gaze at me from the side. “You breaking into investigative journalism or something?”

“Uh no.” I give him a look. “That would make for a very bland piece of writing. No one cares about your love life.”

He lets out a throaty chuckle, one that slithers into my brain through my ears and presses on something that releases a shot of dopamine. James doesn’t laugh often, and when he does, and I’m responsible for it, I swear to God, it’s like a hit of some really good drugs.

He sighs it out and shakes his head. “I can’t be with someone who doesn’t accept me for who I am… and who’s in my life.”

A painful throb of guilt stabs me in the chest like a sharp blade.

Me… They broke up because of me.

It’s my fault.

James will die alone because he’s too busy fretting over his grown-ass adoptive son, who’s secretly never happier than when it’s just the two of us.

I’m such a selfish asshole.

Correction, a perverted selfish asshole.

There are so many things I want to say, but I won’t let myself. Instead, I just slither off the couch and mumble, “I’m going to bed.”

Giving him my back, I only make it two steps before I hear him calling. “Jess… Don’t be like that. You wanted to know, so I fucking told you.”

I peek at him over my shoulder, forcing a smile. “No, I know. I’m just tired.”

Leaving the room quickly, while trying to act like I’m feeling totally normal inside, I stumble up the steps into my bedroom. Once inside with the door closed, I take in a long breath, squeezing my eyes shut while releasing it slowly.

I hate everything about what I’ve become. A thorn in the side of the person I love most in this world. The only person I love, for that matter.

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