“You,” I admit. “Your family. The constant state of… unsafeness you all seem to live in.”
“And had I not stopped your train of thought,” he says, pausing at the fifth door on the right, “had you spiraled another thirty seconds… what would’ve happened?”
“Bite me,” I grumble, absolutely refusing to acknowledge he’s correct.
“Don’t tempt me, baby,” he murmurs. “I don’t nibble to play. I bite to claim.”
“Insane,” I whisper, walking past him and flopping onto the bed like my bones have officially filed for divorce from my body.
“You’re still not fully recovered,” Skip says as he kneels, loosening my shoelaces. “Those total blackouts seem like hell to bounce back from.”
“They are,” I admit, exhausted to my core. “I’ve only had a few in my whole life, but every time I wake up feeling like I ran a marathon. And trust me…that is not something I would ever willingly do.”
“Shame,” Skip sighs dramatically. “I had a marathon planned. Was gonna ask you to join me.”
“I don’t run,” I mumble.
“Who said anything about running, baby?” Skip’s voice dips low… husky, sinful, the kind of tone doctors should slap a warning label on.
“My kind of marathon involves a bed, hours of stamina, and snacks.”
“Snacks?” I blink.
“Of course,” he shrugs, sliding one large hand up my calf as he pulls off my sock. “What kind of monster do you think I am? You think I’m gonna ruin you for all other men andnotfeed you afterward?”
I choke. “R-ruin me?”
He looks up at me with that smug, heart-stopping grin.
“Utterly. Repeatedly. And completely,” Skip mutters. “Now climb up and scootch over. I’m exhausted.”
I don’t argue. Mostly because I need the space. My brain is running laps and losing every one of them.
I roll onto my side, pulling the blanket up to my chin like it might shield me from reality.
Because reality is… Mike was right.
Ihaveseen Skip flirt with half the damn valley since the day I met him. IknewI shouldn’t let myself get swept up in it. And I’ve been stupid enough to catch feelings anyway.
He turns off the light, shuts the door, and slides into bed beside me.
That alone is enough to make my pulse crawl into dangerous territory.
“I think I should go home,” I whisper. “Back to my apartment.”
I start to sit up.
And just like that…I’mdraggedagainst him, his chest pressed to my back, his arm wrapped around my waist like a steel bar.
“That’s not what you really want, Eli,” he murmurs against my hair. “I know Mike’s bullshit is eating at you.”
It is. But admitting it feels like peeling my skin back.
“He’s right, though, isn’t he?” My voice cracks. “I’m not… sexy. I’m not beautiful. You’ve been calling me cute, pretty… and that’s fine. But it’s not attraction, Skip. You’re intrigued by my condition, maybe you feel protective.”
I swallow.
“Mike’s right. I’m way below your level. So just… please stop flirting with me. I already have a stupid crush, and it’s cruel to give me hope that someone like you would want someone like me.”
