When his body presses against me slightly from behind, I gasp and my shaky hands drop the plate, which thankfully doesn’t break in the sink.
“You’ll have to agree that I’m more than concerned about you, Tia. And now that I’ve kissed you, I want more. No way we’re staying just friends.”
He blows into the side of my neck, the one with the almost-healed scratch, and I tingle all the way down to my toes.
“But I have to admit. I won’t make it alive to graduation day because your brother will kill me first. He’s already mad at me.”
I giggle as his breath finds the ticklish spot on my neck. I can sense his warm smile on my skin.
Right about now would be a good time to turn around, to push him away, to run upstairs.
But I don’t.
“What for?”
“For getting in another school fight. Campus police had to interview Alek, interrogating him about my character and my whereabouts. He’s annoyed with me now.”
I turn off the water and place the plate on the drying rack, and make my body turn. I’m face to face with him now.
“I bet he’s not annoyed but concerned. He really cares about you—otherwise he wouldn’t be on your case.”
He looks at me thoughtfully.
“That’s why Alek’s on your case too.”
“Touché.”
Should I push him for more answers? And what was that guy talking about at the food court?
“Do you want to talk about the school fight?”
“Not yet, but I will.”
There’s a promise in those multicolored eyes that I adore.
Quick. Think of all the reasons why I need to stay away from him.
He’s graduating this semester and moving to Las Vegas. I don’t believe in long-distance relationships. And the women. And the parties. Drinking. His lifestyle.
I swallow the dryness overtaking my throat and mouth.
But what really worries me is Charlie. What will Victor do if Charlie really hurts me? Not another stab wound, but… worse. No doubt Victor will beat him up and go to jail. Charlie will walk away. He’s protected.
The kitchen floor sways a little.
Victor’s MMA career will end. I need to listen to the logical part of my brain and not my body.
I push him by placing both hands on the bull. His stomach muscles spasm and he steps back.
“Do you have more training today?” I walk to the couch and flop myself there.
“I’m going right now. But when I come back, you’ll be around, right?”
“Maybe,” I tease, knowing what he’s insinuating. I’ve made my decision already. I’m staying. Charlie won’t be angry with me, at least not for running, so he won’t retaliate. At least I hope. At this point, staying protects them. Running would have worked had he never found out where I was. But now he knows he’s getting either the money or me. He won’t hurt the others.
Victor raises his eyebrows in atry to defy meway. And I really want to accept the challenge, but before I can open my mouth, he continues, “I know what can help with your nightmares.”
I laugh.
