I don’t pretend I’m not watching as he crosses silently to the couch, taking in the movie, my dad, thepopcorn.
I’d thought I’d be in tears, but there’s nothing, almost as if what I’m feeling is too deep to beexpressed.
“I got your letter.” Tyler’s voice is barely audible over the hammering of myheart.
He holds out a folded piece of paper, and after a moment, I take it from him and wad it in my fist, squeezing as if I can turn it todust.
I take a deep breath and return my attention to theTV.
I pull my knees up to my chin and tuck the edges of the fuzzy blanket aroundme.
Tyler sits on the couch next tome.
“What are you doing?” My throattightens.
My dad’s asleep on the other side of the couch, but Tyler pressescloser.
I can’t argue, can’t chew him out. Dad would wake up, and Tyler knowsit.
He usesit.
Without asking, he moves under the blanket, his arm brushing mine. A shaky breath falls from my lips. That smallest touch sends a shiver throughme.
On screen, Thanos wreaks his well-intended-but-ultimately-misguidedhavoc.
Whatever. I could handle the end of theworld.
Dealing with Tyler Adams is some next-levelshit.
Especially when his hip presses against mine, his bicep bumping my shoulder under the too-smallblanket.
I want him toleave.
I want him to never leaveagain.
When I lean forward an inch, he takes the invitation, shifting me so he can slidebehind.
I’m lying against his chest, feeling his warmth through my back. My heart’s hammering, ticking like theseconds.
I try to focus on Robert Downey Jr. I swallow a sigh and resist rubbing my cheek against Tyler’schest.
But all I can think is how over the past few weeks, Tyler’s built me up, made me good, made mestrong…
Then in an instant, he tore it allaway.
17
“Six,”I murmur when the credits roll. “Youasleep?”
Noanswer.
Jax hogs half of the sectional. I can’t be annoyed, because he’s the reason Annie’s breath warms my chest through my undershirt, that her hand’s wrapped around my wrist, that her legs are curled overmine.
I stop the movie and scoop her up, blanket and all, and carry her down the hall. We make it up the stairs, and I hope she doesn’t have any shit on her floor so I don’t trip as I carry her through the dark and set her on her bed. I flick on the light on her bedside table, its glow casting shadows on the purple wall behind herheadboard.
Tonight’s been a mindfuck, and it’s fitting I’m the only one awake forit.
I did the right thing by protecting her. Right now, it’s hard tobelieve.