Page 38 of Saving Wyatt

"Well, in that case, even more of a reason to get out of your way. You've been sharing a bed long enough," I said.

"It's okay. You really don't have to go."

I was tempted to stay. To take him up on his offer, but it'd be even worse now that I knew he and Warren weren't a thing. Because now there'd be nothing stopping me from doing something stupid. And with everything going on, I couldn't do more stupid things.

"It's fine. I'd like to be close to Elliot anyway. In case he decides to do something rash."

Ari pressed his lips together and gave me a single nod.

I picked up my laptop bag, and before I could reach for my backpack, Ari grabbed it.

"Let me help," he started, then frowned. "This is super light."

I sighed. "I lost everything to the fire," I said. "There was nothing to pack other than a couple pairs of underwear I borrowed from Warren and a pair of pajamas."

Ari gave me another sad smile and put his hand on my shoulder for a moment before pulling it back as if he'd been burned. I couldn't blame him. I felt like I'd been burned too, but probably for different reasons.

"You should have said. I didn't even think. Why didn't I think? We need to take you shopping before going anywhere else."

"Oh no, I couldn't," I said.

"Of course you could, and you will. I won't take no for an answer."

"But you weren't feeling so great. You should rest."

He shook his head and put my backpack over his shoulder. "Well, I'm feeling perfectly fine now. So come on. Let's go get you some new clothes," he said, and this time, when he smiled, it was full of joy.

Joy I couldn't help but feel too, deep within my bones.

This was probably a bad idea. I was probably going to regret it. But at that moment, I couldn't find it in me to care.

Not when his gaze felt like it was everything I needed and so much more.

FOURTEEN

ARI

Icouldn't believe he thought Warren and I were a couple. I'd never heard anything funnier, least of all because Warren was as straight as they came, and secondly, because we acted nothing like a couple. We acted like brothers if anything, with how much we teased each other. It was absurd anyone would think we were an item.

But it did explain those intense looks I'd caught him giving me sometimes. Not that I wasn't guilty of doing the same. Only now I was sure it hadn't been romantic interest on his part. Merely curiosity.

"How is that place?" I pointed to the store across the street.

It was a white-painted store with black awnings and the name Cohen Mens stenciled on all the windows.

Wyatt pressed his lips together and shrugged. "No clue," he said.

"Oh. Okay. Where do you usually get your clothes?"

He grimaced and put his hands in his pockets. "Walmart?"

I narrowed my eyes and studied his face for a moment. "Are you asking me or telling me?" I said and couldn't help but laugh.

He held my gaze for a moment, and just when I started getting lost in the beauty of his blue eyes and my composure began to falter, he looked away again.

"I don't know. I haven't been shopping in years."

"Wh-what? What do you wear then?"