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“Well… Thankyoufor letting me stay.” I quivered out a nervous smile. “Even though you apparently had no idea I was here.”
This time, he merely nodded, and his gaze dipped to my lips.
Arousal pooled into the pit of my belly as he stared at my mouth as if he wanted to own it. I drew in a measured breath and then exhaled shakily.
In the back of my mind, a distant, vague voice bellowed at me, trying to remind me that I was focusing on school this year, not guys.Do not go there, it warned.
And I must’ve been listening to that voice because, in the next breath, I found myself blurting, “I can’t have sex with you.”
Damien’s eyes snapped to mine in utter surprise before they filled with confusion. “O…kay,” he drew out slowly.
“Oh God,” I whimpered. Lifting a hand to my brow as if checking for a trace of crazy, I admitted, “I have no idea why I just said that.”
God, this was embarrassing.
But he only cringed. “I was looking again, wasn’t I?”
More than relieved that he was going to take some culpability for my insane slip of the tongue so that I wouldn’t have to be utterly and completely humiliated, I latched onto the scapegoat he provided and began to nod madly.
“It’s just… I’m a new transfer to Haverick this year,” I blabbed, unable to shut up already. “And it took me way more effort than I want to admitjustto get in, so I really can’t have any distractions like…”
Realizing what I was doing—again—and Damien was simply watching me as if I’d lost my mind, I slowed my explanation to a stop and winced.
“Yeah…” I drew out, taking a long, slow step backward. “I’m going to stop turning you down now since you haven’t even made a single advance toward me. I…am so sorry about that. How super presumptuous of me.”
He lifted a hand in forgiveness and huffed out an amused but equally uncomfortable sound. “It’s fine,” he assured, even as he scratched the back of his neck and glanced toward the exit. “I’m going to go, though.” Returning his gaze to me with an uneasy farewell wave, he added, “I’ll make sure to get that paperwork sent to you.”
I sent him a tight smile in return, glad he hadn’t changed his mind about letting me live here after all. “Great. Thanks.”
He nodded and looked momentarily lost before he retreated a step and then noticed the umbrella that he’d tossed onto the couch. “And I’ll return this from where I took it.”
Oh my God! Would he please just go so I could die of humiliation in peaceful, quiet dignity already?
“Perfect,” I gritted out, not moving a muscle.
After scooping up the umbrella, he sent me one last brief glance. “See you.”
I waved back. “Bye.”
And he left the same way he’d come in, through the back entrance.
As soon as I heard the door shut, I sagged my shoulders and pressed my hand against my abdomen with a pathetic moan. “What iswrongwith me?”
I’d never had gamethatlousy with anyone in my entire life. Not that I’d been trying to have any withhim—my intent had been just the opposite—but still. That had to be the first time I’d ever stuck my foot so firmly into my mouth that I’d started talking out of my ass before.
From here on out, I’d have to learn how to unclog my own drains and watch do-it-yourself YouTube videos about electricity because no way in hell could I ever face him again for apartment problems.
Not for any reason.
4
DAMIEN
“Yo, Arch! Toss me a breadstick, will you?” From the end of the table, Foster sent me the beckoning gesture with both hands.
Obliging, I leaned forward and peered into the basket in front of me to find one garlic-coated stick left. So I picked it out with two fingers and gave it a backward-spinning fling his way.
When Foster caught it with one hand, he grinned and sent me a thumbs-up. “Nice.” Then he returned his attention to Keene and Alec on either side of him as they argued over some foosball match they’d had earlier in our living room.
