Page 33 of Withered

After applying ointment to every bruise, I bandage the ones that are in bad shape and leave the others. I’m not going to ask him who he fought with again. No words are exchanged. All I could hear are our breaths and nothing else.

Throwing everything in the box, I was about to make my way to the bathroom to wash my hands when he says, “Thank you.”

I look at him over my shoulder and reply in the most casual tone. “Anytime!”

I rush into the bathroom, lock the door, lean against it, and exhale the breath I was holding. The sparks I felt in the car are back. I feel them.

I put my hand over my heart and felt it rapidly thumping. I should receive a freaking award for having stayed calm that long. Even though I feel hot, I have goosebumps all over my body and sweat droplets on my forehead. All because my bare thigh brushed up against him.

I splash my face with water and clean it with a towel kept nearby. Even his towel smells like him—that woodsy smell of his. I take a few more breaths to calm myself before exiting the bathroom.

Jake is still there where I left him. He looks up at me, and there is that intensity. I don’t know if he can feel it or not, but I do.

Before I can say anything, he breaks the silence by asking, “Do you want something? Water?”

“Yeah, sure.” I nod. He gets up and leaves the room.

I scan his room and notice he has so many books, both fictional and non-fictional. It’s hard to believe that Jake reads.

Something on his desk catches my attention. I look correctly and see a brownie. My mouth waters just looking at it. I quickly go through the pros and cons of eating it. Even though it looks so appealing, I can’t eat it. Jake will bury me alive, but then again, one brownie won’t hurt, right?

It’s way past midnight, and the sight of the brownie is making me hungry. I lift it from the plate, take a bite, and before I know it, I’ve gobbled it down.

Jake enters the room a minute later and hands me the glass. Thanking him, I chug it down quickly.

“Woah! Slow down!” He looks at me amused and asks, “Need more?”

I decline politely by shaking my head, and suddenly, it feels so hot in here that I have to fan myself with my palm.

“Why is it so hot in here?” I’m still fanning myself.

“You’re sitting beside the hottest man,” he mutters.

I roll my eyes at him and walk up to his window. A cold breeze hits me, making me feel better for a second before it’s gone.

I turn at Jake, who is already watching me with a confused look as he calls me, “Rose.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you do something?” He asks.

“Well, if eating your brownie meanssomething, then yes, I did something.” I burst out laughing.

“Fuck!” He screams, running his fingers through his hair.

Looking around his desk, he notices that the brownie is missing. He says something under his breath that I don’t understand.

“What did you say?” I ask him, giggling.

“Nothing. Why don’t you come and sit here?” He gestures towards his bed.

Like the good girl I am, I obey him and sit on his bed cross-legged while he stands directly in front of me.

“You look gorgeous,” I state.

“Yeah?” He smirks.

“Yeah.” I nod. I don’t even know what I am saying, just that I am saying it.

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