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"Anyway," I added, turning back to the take-out menu. "Is there something that you want?"
"Something that we...?" Solomon began, and I held up the menu before his mind went anywhere it really wasn’t supposed to.
"To eat," I told him, cocking an eyebrow. "Why, what were you thinking?"
The two of them exchanged a glance. The air was thick with tension, and I knew we were all aware of it. No matter how much both of them wanted to play dumb, they could feel it, too. Couldn’t they? Or maybe I was just overthinking it, just imagining something between us because I so, wanted them to look at me like that...
And not just as their charge, this silly girl they had to look out for, though they wanted nothing more than to be done with me. I had no idea.
"No?" I added, taking the menu and tucking it under my arm. "Well, I’m going to order. You let me know when it arrives."
And, with that, I walked away from them. I could feel them both watching me, their eyes following me, and I couldn’t help but let a smile quirk up the corners of my lips. Was this stupid? Probably. But I couldn’t deny how damn good it felt to be the center of their attention like this.
Even if I had no idea where it was going to lead me.
Chapter Eight – Alex
I checked my watch. Almost time for the shift changeover. But, if I was being honest, there was something else on my mind entirely – something a whole lot more pressing.
And something I knew I needed to clear the air about before either of us could move forward.
It was just past midnight, and Solomon stepped back through the apartment door, yawning and stretching his arms above his head.
"You ready?" he asked me, and I nodded. But, before he could head through to his room, I caught his arm.
"Hey," I told him. "We need to talk."
He frowned at me, playing dumb.
"What about?"
"You know what about."
His eyes flashed for a moment, with an emotion I wasn’t entirely sure I could read.
"Her?"
"Her."
He sighed and leaned back against the door.
"What about her?"
I ran a hand over my shaved head, a habit I’d picked up at times of stress. And, right now, fuck, I needed it – needed something to get my head off the girl sleeping in the room across from us right now, the girl I wanted nothing more than to wake up and...
No. I couldn’t let my mind go there. I couldn’t. I had to control myself. I was better than that. I wasn’t going to let myself get drawn into whatever fucked-up desire had started to fill my head the moment I had seen her in that robe the day before. I wasn’t going to allow myself to be controlled by that. I prided myself on being able to run my life exactly as I wanted to, not giving in to any bullshit that I knew wouldn’t have led me to a good place.
"You’re into her, aren’t you?" I asked him bluntly. He eyed me for a moment, his face not giving anything away.
"You are too," he shot back. I gritted my teeth. Fuck, I wished I could deny it, but there was no way I could. He knew me too well for that. Even though we’d known each other for only a year or so, the two of us had worked together so closely that there was nothing either of us could sneak by each other. Every little detail was out in the open, whether we wanted it or not, and here, now, he knew just what was on my mind.
"Yes, I am," I growled, more angry at myself than I was at him. "She’s...I don’t know what she is. Like a succubus."
"A what?"
"I’ll explain another time," I replied, waving my hand. "I...I need to know that you’re not going to do anything about it. That’s what I need to hear from you right now."
He parted his lips. I could see in his face that he wanted to assure me I had nothing to worry about, but he couldn’t, not quite, not totally – no, some part of him knew, whether he wanted to admit it or not, that he couldn’t control himself around her. He couldn’t keep himself together.
