Page 77 of A Million To Fall

A sound carries down the stairs.

It’s soft. Barely there. Probably just the house settling or the air kicking on. I know that.

Still, I freeze, listening. Every muscle in my body tenses, waiting for my brain to send instructions. Fight or flight? What’s it gonna be?

The house feels too quiet all of a sudden. Too aware of me.

You’re fine, Skye. You’re a big girl.

Another creak. My pulse climbs higher, my breath shallow with fear.

Worried gray eyes flash through my mind. A warm hand on my jaw.

That’s when I realize I don’t want to be brave.

I want to feel safe.

Before I can think too hard about it, I grab my phone and keys, then walk to my car without turning off a single light. I just want out. I need air, motion, distance from this house that feels like it’s watching me.

Minutes later, I pull into the parking lot at AJ’s. I throw my car into park, then step out and march across the parking lot like a woman on a mission.

I shove the door to the restaurant open. Clearly too hard, because it slams into something solid.

A twenty-ounce cup of Coke flies through the air and spills down the front of its victim.

“Oh no!” I gasp, instinctively wiping at the drenched shirt in front of me.

“Stormy?”

I look up. And up—and immediately combust.

“Boss!” I say, mortified. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”

Boston stoops and grabs the empty cup. When he stands, his shirt is plastered to his torso, nearly transparent, outlining every dip and swell of lean muscle. And now that I’ve noticed, I can’t un-notice.

“You could’ve just said hi,” he teases. “Didn’t have to assault me with my pop. Unless this was payback for the soccer ball incident which, you know, wasn’t really my fault.”

“I’m really sorry,” I repeat. “I didn’t know you were, like, right there and—”

Boston laughs, shaking his head. “Hey, it’s okay. Shit happens.” He looks around. “What are you doing here?”

I open my mouth, then close it again sheepishly.

I sigh. “I… I don’t want to be alone.”

His eyebrows rise. “You’re alone?”

I nod. “My parents are out of town. They’re in Florida for a wedding, and Archer went—”

“Hunting.”

“Yeah. He was supposed to stay with me so I wouldn’t be all alone, but… well.” I shrug. “I don’t like being alone.”

“So, you came here?” he asks, like the thought doesn’t quite compute.

I nod again. “I thought maybe I’d grab some food. Be around people.” My cheeks warm. “And… maybe hang out with you while you work.”

His face lightens, lips tugging into a smile. “Sounds boring.”