Page 148 of The Unravelings

A grin breaks out on JJ’s face. “Jealous?” he asks with a smug look.

“No,” I quickly retort. “Not jealous. But her? Really? She stabbed me in high school, you know?” I sign and then point to the long scar on my arm from the time she attempted to scare me in the bathroom. Okay, it was an attempt. I was scared. She always had this possessive streak about her toward the guys. Huxley in particular. For whatever reason. It seems that possessive bullshit followed her into college, but this time she got what she wanted.

“We’re aware,” he signs with a deadly expression. “But it wasn’t his choice. You know that, right? It’s a stupid alliance for business purposes.”

I roll my eyes. “You assholes and your business marriages.”

He snorts. “You’re right. It is dumb. We hate it. Huxley hates it. I’ve been trying to find a loophole for him. But you know how it goes.”

Yeah, I do. Because I was in one, too, before my father changed his mind. It was bullshit then, and it’s bullshit now. The only difference is that my fake death freed me from it.

I swallow hard. “A loophole?” I question.

I know the perfect loophole. One they won’t see coming. Because no one knew. Not even Mack and JJ. It was something between Huxley and me. Something special. Sacred. Forbidden. It was to save us both from the fates we knew were in front of us. And now, it would probably save him from a life with Amanda. That bitch.

“There is none,” JJ signs sadly with a huff. “But I’ll keep looking. No matter what.” He gives me a sure nod, as his gaze roams down my nude body again. It’s not fair that I’m the only one who got naked.

Right now, I ache to see him, too. Feel him again. To see all the changes in his body besides his bare, naked chest. His eyes devour me more, and he stops his gaze on the scars lining my body. “I’ll make whoever did this to you pay. You understand that, right?” he signs carefully and leans over me, kissing my lips one last time and letting me taste myself on his tongue. My eyes squeeze shut as I fall into him one last time, letting his hands roam over my breasts and finally landing on my hips. He groans into my mouth loudly as his tongue twirls with mine.

Even though there’s a niggling doubt in the back of my mind, I could stay like this all day with JJ. In his arms, wrapped in his desperate kisses. Wandering hands that feel like home and have meaning. Despite our torrid past. A past that I’m starting to doubt the memories of. Not the good times. The good times were the realest thing I had in my life. The memories I search for when my heart is sinking, and I need a light at the end of the tunnel.

Them.

It’s the fire. The killings. Everything that happened that night. They’re all wrapped in warped memories. Through haze and smoke. If the timestamps are right, then JJ and Mack were nowhere near this fucking town.

Only Huxley is a loose end. A loose end I want to understand.

I jump out of my skin when the loud bang of our dorm suite crashes open and then closes.

“Honey, I’m homeeee!!” Simon sings outside my bedroom door, which I am positive isn’t fucking locked. “And I’ve got some teeaaaaaa!” he sings again, footsteps advancing on my fucking door.

Shit!

I pull back from JJ with wide eyes. He won’t be able to hear Simon stomping around the apartment without his hearing aids charged. I shake my head, and his brows furrow until my frantic fingers fall in front of his face.

“Simon’s home!” I sign quickly, throwing JJ off me and onto the bed. He lands with an umph, staring at my naked ass as I fly off the damn bed and make it to my door in time to make sure it was locked.

“Oli!” Simon huffs, knocking on the door. “I know you’re in there. I heard your footsteps. Come outttttt. I’ve missed you!” he says, knocking on my door harder this time.

I blow out a breath. “Uh, give me like ten minutes, Man. I’m doing some stuff.” Fuck! Some stuff. I peek over my shoulder as JJ intently watches me from the bed, lying on his side with a smirk.

How am I going to explain this to Simon? JJ in my room?

“Home early?” he signs, cocking his head.

I narrow my eyes. “Yes, and he wants to have a talk,” I retort with a huff, turning to rest my back against the door.

“Ohhh? Stuff? Oliver,” Simon chuckles my name. “Fine! Tell your stuff to scurry along. We have some fun initiation and fight stuff to talk about for this weekend.”

“Okay,” I squeak.

How the hell does he know I have someone in here? Ugh.

I blow out a breath, noticing Waffles for the first time since I woke up, curled up on Dane’s bed, none the wiser about what JJ and I did. At least, I hope. He lays his tired face on his paws, yawning up at me like he woke from the best slumber he’s ever had in his doggy life.

“Sorry, Waffles,” I mumble, reaching down to scratch behind his ears. “We probably scarred you for life. My poor boy,” I coo at him.

JJ snorts softly, watching my lips. “Does this mean you’re kicking me out?” he playfully signs. “I could stay here all day, you know. Eating your pussy and making you moan.” He raises his brows as heat envelops my cheeks.