He sits back, combing a hand through his hair. “You just told me you liked it here. How am I supposed to know if you’re telling the truth or not?”
I place a hand on my chest. “I wasn’t lying. I just needed to slow down.”
Dax leans back on his arm. “That’s fine. I just want to be with you. We can stay at opposite ends of the room for all I care.”
I can’t help feeling sensitive and inexperienced as I turn away from him. “You have done a lot more with other girls, though. Haven’t you?”
“Why are you asking that?”
I bundle my hands inside the sweatshirt sleeves, keeping my head low. “You and Stella… You seemed close. Like, in jokes and history.”
“How much more obvious do I need to be about how much I like you?”
His words make me turn to face him.
He leans forward with purposeful eye contact. “There are no other girls on my mind.”
It keeps gnawing at me. “But are you hiding how close you and Stella are?”
Dax’s jaw flexes as he breaks eye contact. “Is that why you recoiled when I touched you?”
Like a reflex, I pull my shirt down again. “No, but…”
“Vanessa,” he says softly. “I don’t want to rush you, and I don’t want to be with anyone else. There’s never been anyone else. I’m sorry I got handsy. I won’t do it again until you tell me you’re ready.”
My heart leaps into my throat. “Really?”
His sincere smile eliminates the tension seizing the room. “Of course. I got caught up, and that’s on me. I won’t do it again. Really. I’m sorry.”
I hug my middle, unsure of how to act. “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad or anything.”
He shrugs. “You’re just setting boundaries. I can respect that.”
I loosen my arms and edge closer to him. “I’m sorry for getting obsessive about the other girl.”
He caresses the side of my face. “Look, I’ve hung out with her over the years, but there’s nothing there. I never felt a spark before I met you.”
I bite my lip, leaning into him. “Really?”
“I remember seeing you before I collapsed,” he admits. “Everything was going white, but I saw you. There was all this light around you, like an angel. Part of me thought I was dying.”
I nuzzle my face against his. “I’m so glad I was there to get you help.”
Dax pulls away from me, his face stony as it turns toward the doorway. My hand lies on his chest, feeling the thumps of his heart. As if seeing his ears prick, I hear it too. The rev of motorcycles coming to a stop outside the house.
Dax moves to the end of the bed, listening intently to the outside noises. When a louder engine roars, Dax jolts.
He looks back at me with heightened concern. “That’s my brother’s bike.”
I sit up, blood draining from my body. “What do we do?”
“They must’ve seen my bike,” Dax says, standing. He holds out a hand to me. “You’ll need to hide.”
“What about you?” I say, standing with him.
“I’ll get them out of here.”
My heart thuds against my ribs. “Them?”
