“Like what?”
I forced a small, shaky laugh and met her gaze head-on. “ Like the fact that they’re about to decide on the final team roster and I’m not at all sure I made the cut. Or what I’m even doing here, besides making a fool of myself. Or the fact that everyone else gets shit faster than I do. Always have.”
“Here like the US, orhere-here?”
“Both.” My voice sounded husky.
Her face shifted, something fierce and painful flickering across her delicate features. “And you came here,” she said slowly, “because…?”
“Because the quiet freaked me out. And I didn’t want to sit there alone, thinking about how useless I am when you’re right next door and not making me feel like an idiot.”
She stared at me for a long time, and I held my breath. My pulse pounded in my ears and an endless loop ofWhy would you tell her that?!played on a loop in my mind.
Then she just turned around, her features softening. “Get in before someone sees you.”
“I’m already in.”
“You know what I mean.”
She turned, walking deeper into her room, and I followed, feeling something warm and low-key terrifying settling in my chest.
Something feeling very much like trouble.
Curse you, Janet.
And something feeling a lot like wanting her more than was wise.
Tori switched on her bedside lamp and the warm, low light cast her skin in an unfairly stunning glow. She perched on the edge of her bed as though debating whether to kick me back out of the window.
I stayed by the sill for a second, hands in the pockets of my shorts, trying not to look as nervous as I actually was.
“Well? Are you gonna lurk there like a creeper, or are you planning to sit down?”
“It’s a nice window,” I offered dumbly.
She narrowed her eyes. “Sit.”
I obeyed like a trained fucking dog, and I couldn’t even hate myself for it. The bed rocked and creaked under my weight, and I shot her a quick glance, my ears feeling hot.
Christ, if this fucking bed gives out under me, I’m going to die of embarrassment.
She pulled one knee up to her chest, her chin resting on it. “So. You’re awake because your own thoughts are bullying you. Good to know.”
“It’s more of a friendly bullying,” I countered.
The corner of her mouth twitched. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was close enough for me to count it as a personal victory.
“You are genuinely hopeless.”
“And yet.” I nodded at the window. “Here I am. Invited inside.”
“That was a lapse in judgment.”
“I’ll take it.”
She huffed, pretending like she wasn’t warming up to me. “So, what do you want? A gold star? A bedtime story?”
“Wouldn’t say no to either.”
