My gaze snaps to Milo’s laughing eyes. Did I say that out loud?
I don’t know why he sounds so possessive. I don’t know why it makes me shiver the way it does.
“Okay, I’m not touching that one.” Jalen scratches the side of his neck with what looks like a car key. He points a finger at Milo. “Do not make me sorry I helped you.” To me he says, “You’re gonna be okay, buddy.”
Then he slaps a hand on my shoulder and walks away, leaving me standing on the front porch with Milo and Iggy. The only money I have is what I got from Crazy Knife Guy before he tried to mutilate me, and I’m now an hour and a half from home.
In spite of Jalen’s reassurance, my insides feel hollow the way they did when I first walked into Tucker’s house. This is a terrible idea. One I can’t undo.
What in the hell am I supposed to do now?
6
Notes:
Sorry this chapter is late. I tried to do my friend a solid by hiding inside a giant cake for his buddy’s bachelor party, but they ended up changing the plan. Nobody gave ME the memo, so I waited around scrunched up inside a huge cake until my foot cramped. It tasted good though. Strawberry and vanilla.
Milo
Rowan doesn’t trust me. Smart.
The wild way his eyes bounce around the room while he situates Iggy’s tank tells me as much, especially the way they keep landing on me. Guess that’s fair.
I don’t trust him either.
Also, though? Don’t think I don’t notice the blush that rises so easily to his pale cheeks and throat. Redheads, man.
“What are you looking at?” Rowan asks after the zillionth time HE has looked at me.
“Just wondering why you look like you think you’re about to get busted any second.”
“People tried to kill me tonight. Plural. How the hell else would I be?”
“To be fair, I didn’t try to kill you that hard.”
“Really? Good to know. Thanks a whole fucking lot. That is theoppositeof helpful.”
“Nobody knows we’re here except Jalen and your pimp, who are up to their criminally affiliated necks in mutually assured destruction. They will not tell anybody.”
His shoulders drop a little. “I… This all feels so weird.”
“Yeah. It feels weird because it’s weird.” I cross my arms over my chest, studying him. Rowan’s a big guy. Rangy frame. Lean muscle. Not chiseled or anything, but how realistic is a guy whomissed his calling as a statue, anyway? I can tell he takes care of himself. I can also see the way his entire being curls inward a little, the way he fidgets and keeps scanning the room when anyone can see he’s exhausted and needs to sit the hell down.
Which I care fuck all about. Obviously.
“Guess you’re right,” he mumbles. “I wish I knew why any of this is even happening. I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, baby.” Yeah, I heard it. It keeps slipping out. I’ve given my tongue several talking-tos at this point.
I jerk my chin toward the cabin’s only bedroom. It’s a cozy little rustic home with a fireplace, a tiny eat-in kitchen, and a small living area. The sofa’s more of a love seat, and neither of us will fit.
“Look, we’re both wiped. Let’s get some rest.”
Right then, Rowan’s stomach lets out an angry noise. Like thunder threatening to break the sky open.
Well, now who looks like a dick? “Shit. You never ate, did you?” It comes out on an impatient sigh. I’m used to working alone, after all. Having to deal with the needs of this man, I’m reevaluating my choices. Maybe I should go ahead and kill him, before I make a dumb mistake like caring too much or getting attached to his damn iguana or whatever.
“When exactly would I have had time to do that? When I was stuck under a dead body? When you were telling me you wanted to kill me? When you were forcing me to pack at gunpoint while tapping your foot?”
