Page 78 of Finding Storm

“What?” I grit out.

“He only does it because he cares.”

I relax my jaw a little. “I know.”

Another silence and then, “Did you really pick that guy up off the floor by his throat?” Her voice has lowered to a whisper, and I wonder where in the house she is.

I’m not sure how to answer that, but it’ll be all over the internet anyway, so it’s not like she won’t be able to see the video.

“Yeah.” I sigh.

“Not that I condone violence in any way … but that’s totally badass.”

I can’t hold in my smile. “I’m hanging up now.”

“Call Dad soon,” she says quickly.

“Belle …” My voice has a warning tone.

“I know he messed up, but he’s hurting. He loves you, you know. We all do.”

Another sigh. “I know. I’ll speak to you later.”

I hang up before she can say any more.

I stare at my phone in my hand for a moment.

Then, I turn it off. Standing up, I leave my cell in the room and head downstairs in search of Stevie.

I’m placing the cutlery on the table when Nick appears in the dining room.

“Hey.” I smile at him. My mouth all of a sudden dry.

He looks … amazing. I mean, there’s nothing different about him from the first time I saw him—well, except for he’s wearing a shirt.

He’s all freshly showered, hair still damp from it. Boots on his feet, blue jeans covering his ass, and a white T-shirt that shows off the ink covering both arms.

He has so many tattoos. I’ve never dated a guy who has tattoos before.

You’re not dating this one, doofus.

Only in your head.

“Need a hand?”

He moves closer to me. My heartbeat kicks up a notch.

Just his nearness has my body going into overdrive.

“Nah. I got it. Dinner’s nearly ready. Gran’s just finishing up. We all usually eat in our kitchen. But we’re going to eat in here with you, if that’s okay? Gran has this thing about people eating alone.”

He smiles. “It’s fine with me.”

“Cool.”

I’m just awkwardly standing here, gazing at him like a teenager standing in front of her first crush.

I am totally crushing on him.