I cleared my throat as my entire body flushed with how inappropriate my thoughtsalmostgot. He’d ghosted me. Thinking about how he slept or what he did—or didn’t—wear to bed was none of my business. “Come on, friendly neighbor.”
He took his time leaving my room despite his insistence on rushing. “I can’t figure out what that heap of stuff is on your chair.”
“Yarn. I got into knitting a couple years ago and love to make hats and scarves. Oh! I want to bring that.” I brushed past him again and shoved the materials into my arms.
His lips twitched as though he was trying not to laugh at me.
Feeling silly, I blushed. “I don’t care that you might not think it’s cool. I like it and it relaxes me, so don’t judge me. Sports aren’t my thing. I trip over my own feet all the time, if you hadn’t noticed.”
He didn’t say anything else as I rambled, but I decided I didn’t care. We were doing this for survival. Nothing more. Partners out of necessity. Buddies to escape death.
We walked in silence down the stairs with our flashlights illuminating the dark passage. There were no windows on this side of the house. Even with the wicked snowstorm outside, a tiny stream of sunlight hit the kitchen and provided enough light to grab some food. Harrison waited while I found the necessary ingredients in the kitchen and then grabbed my tea and kettle.
“My books!” I turned toward the living room.
“Your books?” He furrowed those dark and strong brows.
“I checked out ten books to read over break. I think I left them in the living room. Can you wait a second more?”
Again, he didn’t respond but followed me into the room and watched me grab various novels I’d stored in random places. Four should be good enough.
“There. I’m ready.” I stood to my full five-foot-three height and gave him my best smile. Yarn and books spilled out of my arms.
“Why were your books all over the place?” His lips were curved up in a slight smile showcasing his delicious dimples.
“Well, I like to place them where I can easily grab them when the fancy strikes. It’s a system I’ve used my whole life. Books on hand at all my favorite hangout spots.”
“Okay then.” He reached out and adjusted one of the books in my hand, his gloved fingers accidentally brushing against the outside of my coat. “Ready?”
Feeling like a teenage girl around her biggest and most embarrassing crush, I looked away. “Yes, sir.”
We approached the door, and as I placed my hand on the knob, he stopped me. “It’s bitter out. Can you put on a hat and scarf? A coat? Maybe gloves?”
Oh my goodness. I’m still in my bathrobe.
“Uh, yeah. Give me a sec.”
Setting my stuff down on the front table, I tossed my bathrobe in the closet and searched for the right winter gear. It wasn’t like I wanted to be sexy for him, but that bathrobe was ratty.
We’d already taken up a good twenty minutes in the cold, and his impatience grew with each second. I rummaged in the closet and found a green-and-red scarf I’d knitted. It was way too long, so I wrapped it around my neck three times. The hat was large and a dark red color. The gloves didn’t match but they had snowmen on them, and I loved them.
“Ready,” I said, closing the closet door.
He shook his head at me, his green gaze roaming all over me. My face, shoulders, torso, and legs.
Fine. Let him mock me, I didn’t care. I held my head high. “Lead the way.”
He clenched his jaw for a second before adjusting my scarf so it covered my cheeks. “Look down and walk fast. It’s the worst weather I’ve ever experienced.”
Shaken by that oddly sweet gesture performed by the handsome giant, I locked the door even though the neighborhood was deserted, and we trekked the short distance toward his house. Wind whipped from every direction, stinging my cheeks like little daggers. My eyes watered, and each breath hurt my lungs. Despite the short walk, my entire body hurt with the cold, and I shivered so hard my jaw ached. “W-whoa, it’s f-freezing.”
He ushered me into his house first then shoved my bags inside. “There’s a blanket on the couch. Use that until I get the fire going.”
I dove onto his leather couch and bundled into the blanket without taking off a single piece of my winter wear. His house was warmer than the sorority, and my gratitude for him overwhelmed me. How dumb was I, thinking I could’ve done this alone… by burning kitchen chairs? I snorted into my fist while looking over his living room.
Yikes. His pile of wood, no pun intended, was eight times the size of mine, and it didn’t take him more than a couple of minutes to get the fire going.
“How you doing over there, Becca?”
