Page 20 of Late Nights

“Friends don’t hold grudges,” I ground out.

She wasn’t going to let this friends thing go, and I’d have to figure it out before it ruined what relationship we did have. The Vanderhall family was important to me, and I didn’t want to make things awkward every time we got together.

“How do you even know that? You’re not exactly an expert on friendship. You’ve only let yourself have one friend. And although I don’t understand your trust issues, I don’t doubt why you have them.” She paused, her voice softer, then she said, “I know you feel like you don’t know me, but you know enough about me after ten years to know you can trust me.”

I closed my eyes and breathed in through my nose, trying to diffuse some of my frustration.

I did trust her.

It was me I didn’t trust.

Opening my eyes I could see the hurt in her eyes, which had me wanting to smack myself in the face. I didn’t want to hurt Demi. I never wanted to hurt her. That was exactly why I’d always kept my distance, but it seemed like that distance was hurting her all the same.

“I do trust you,” I said. “I was just trying to give you some space.”

She quirked a brow at me. “You call babysitting me while I’m at work giving me space?”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Good point.”

“Demi,” Robby called out. “I need you down here.”

She nodded at him. “I need to get back to work,” she said to me, our conversation officially over.

I stood. “Okay, I’ll see you at home.”

I had been too obvious with my reasonings for being here tonight. I’d have to be more careful next time. She called it babysitting, but I called it being proactive.

And maybe a little territorial.

“Be careful,” she smiled. “That almost sounded like you’re going to wait up for me.” She winked at me before turning to walk away.

I let myself enjoy the view since no one was here to reprimand me for it.

She had been teasing, of course, but there was no doubt that I would be waiting for her to get home before I went to bed.

7

Demi

Iclimbed the stairs up to the apartment, my feet hurting with each step. My first night at The Bridger had been successful—and exhausting. The Pilates classes I had been taking hadn’t quite prepared me for being on my feet for so many hours.

I punched in the lock code and pushed open the door to my temporary apartment. As soon as I was through the door, I noticed Cannon sitting on the couch, headphones on as he played a video game.

I’d wondered after our conversation at the bar if he’d still be awake when I got home.

He turned to look at me, his gaze searing as his eyes traveled from my head to my toes and back again, spreading heat throughout my body. “You made it home in one piece.”

Oh. Is that what his stare had been about? Making sure I was safe? I tried to hide my disappointment and hoped he hadn’t noticed how his roaming eyes had made my breathing speed up.

“Yep.” I forced out a smile. “I’m going to go shower.”

He nodded and returned to his game.

I took a quick shower, washing off the smell of The Bridger from my skin and hair. I finished getting ready for bed, but as soon as I was about to brush my teeth, my stomach grumbled. I hadn’t eaten in hours. I was so excited to go to sleep, but my body needed food. I’d just eat a bowl of cereal and head to bed.

As I walked into the kitchen, I was surprised Cannon was still awake. It was past one in the morning.

I grabbed a bowl of cereal and brought it with me into the living room, sitting crossed legged on the other couch. “What game are you playing?”

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