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A slight cloud of butterflies stirs my stomach as I stare at the few words. Except that a surge of anger came over me when I think back to the last minutes we spent together. Our kiss, the unexpected arrival of Nolan, the feeling of unease that overwhelmed me when I found myself between them. I hated that helplessness as I felt Nolan’s presence behind me. Corey’s slightly musky scent wafted through my senses as I rested my forehead on his shoulder, but all my other senses were focused elsewhere. On red alert, as the body behind me drew closer.
I can still hear his deep voice scolding Corey for the hands he’d slid down my ass, I again feel the intense heat that had spread through my chest. I didn’t have to turn around to face Nolan, I fully guessed him. I imagined his posture, the mess in his curls, the intensity of his gaze.
I sigh again, keeping my phone in one hand and getting up from my bed.
Another night lost.
I retrieve a worn sweatshirt and quickly put it on before putting on leggings that I take off the floor. I walk around in the dark, groping for my door handle. The squeak makes me jump, and I swear at myself. I stop for a second, trying to distinguish if I’ve just woken up the apartment or if the whole building is about to come after me, then continue on my way.
I arrive in the silent living room and collapse onto the couch, covering my legs with a blanket. The days are warm enough,but the nights in the apartment are getting cooler, and the fabric against my skin causes a feeling of familiarity. Just like home. I turn on the television, aware that I’m going to need a very boring program to make me close my eyes. I scroll for ten minutes before opening Netflix. With any luck, a new thing will be streaming. As I click through several thumbnails, the door leading to the bedrooms opens and I jump as I see the shadow materialize.
“I knew it was you.”
Nolan closes the door behind him and tiptoes forward. Hands in the pockets of his black sweatpants, hair completely shaggy on the top of his head, he drops down unrestrainedly at my side. I take a quick look at my phone screen. Two past twelve.
“Did I wake you up?”
“No, you didn’t.”
Glancing at the TV, he squints and turns to me.
“Are you really going to watch this trash?” he grimaces.
“Are you really going to stay here?” I protest. “Do you know what time it is? You should be asleep.”
He laughs as he pulls the extra blanket I’ve laid over my legs and places it over him. The blanket is not very big, and it forces me to shift slightly in order to stay covered. My icy feet touch his thigh, but he doesn’t react.
“I’ve had too much coffee at Milo’s,” he sighs. “So, what’s it about? With any luck, it’ll put me right to sleep.”
“A South Korean woman who has a paragliding accident and gets stuck in North Korea.”
He sniffles and crosses his arms over his chest, sinking further into the couch.
“You’re really watching some crap, Scar.”
“You can go back to your room, Nolan.”
He grabs my cold foot and pulls it towards him, I struggle, but he keeps it in his big warm hands. His touch causes particularsensations that I have a hard time controlling.
“Fine,” I panic, short of breath. “You can stay here.”
I straighten up so we’re only inches apart, and the smell of his skin sends butterflies into my stomach. He smiled at me, his eyes laughing and proud. I frown.
“So, are you putting on your KoreanRomeo and Juliet?”
His warm breath tickles my face and I hastily pull back, settling myself back onto the couch properly. My foot still trapped in his grip, I no longer dare move, far too aware of his presence. I retrieve the remote control and begin the first episode with a long sigh.
“Damn it,” he growls.
I turn to him, head tilted back, he stares at the ceiling, whispering inaudible things.
“What’s wrong?”
He gets up slightly to look at the television with a disappointed pout.
“It’s not eventranslated.”
“There are subtitles,” I say, confused. “Please tell me, can you even read? No, because you’re starting to scare me.”
