“Are you adept at creating immaculate designs with either of those materials?”
“Not particularly,” he admits, already sensing the major flaw in his plan.
“I have a better idea. Follow me.”
He practically jumps out of his seat. Is he… excited?
I stand much more slowly since my headache is returning. I leave the room, aware of how closely he follows. His gaze burns through my spine as we walk up the stairs to the smallest top floor. I open the last door on the left, then lead him to the small attic right across the tiny hallway from my cubicle of a room.
But… I’ve lost him.
“What’s in here?” he asks.
I whirl around to see him reaching for the doorknob to my room.
“Nothing!” I dart in front of him, ducking under his arm and plastering myself to the door to prevent entry.
“Ah,” he says in an irritatingly knowing voice. “Your room. What? Do you still have pictures of the Jonas Brothers on your wall?”
I jut out my chin. “I could. They’re making a comeback.”
He still hasn’t removed his hand from the doorknob, so by default his arm is around me. I can’t take a full breath or my chest will brush his.
“There was only supposed to be one room up here,” he says, as if thinking out loud.
The floor was remodeled to make two rooms, mine being far smaller than the other. It was like they forgot they needed a place for a nanny and dug out a cave for one as there are no windows or a closet. But how did Soren know this? “Did you study the blueprints or something?”
“Yes.”
“Well, aren’t you a thorough thief?”
“Preparation is the key to success.”
“And how is that working for you now?” My eyes glint, but he doesn’t take the bait, only smiles.
“I’m getting much more than I came for.”
“But not what you need.”
“I haven’t given up hope yet. Let’s see what’s behind door number two, shall we?
I put my hands on his chest and shove, but he doesn’t even budge. Instead, he turns the doorknob.
“Stop!” I press myself against him, but I feel like a mouse trying to stop a giant. I grab both sides of the doorway, using my body to hold him back.
“What are you hiding from me, Maya?” His voice is deep and husky, and all of the sudden I can’t hold on anymore, because I don’t want to. He doesn’t deserve to have exclusive access to my life, but it only matters if I let it. I have a million things I’m hiding from him, but none he will stick around long enough to care about.
“Fine.” I release the doorframe. “Nothing will stop you from taking what you want and destroying my life again, will it? So if that’s what will make you happy, then do it.”
His hold on the door drops, and he steps back, his expression hardening. “You seem to think I didn’t suffer.”
I don’t want to think of him suffering the way I did eight years ago. I’ve tried so hard not to think of him at all. But now my mind won’t stop replaying the past, wondering where I went wrong. Because that is the only solid explanation I’ve come to. I wanted too much from him, and he couldn’t take the pressure. “I know you didn’t.”
“You don’t know everything, Perfect Perry.” His detached tone rakes against the inside of my rib cage. He reaches for the doorknob again, but this time he pulls the door shut behind me. “Relax. Your Jonas Brothers poster is still safely rolled up on the bed.”
I cross my arms as a chill sweeps over me. “Good. That’s where I like them.” I open the door a crack to lock it and shut it again, but when I turn around, Soren is by the other door, waiting patiently, but avoiding my eye.
I walk across the hall and open the door, flicking on the lights to reveal the madness.
