Page 37 of Falling for You

She juts out her lower lip, pouts, “Over before it even started. I could never continue this knowing you don’t get off on the GG’s.”

“Well, shit,” I shift like I’m about to stand up though I have no intention of doing such a thing, “It was fun while it lasted, huh?”

“Truly. Being stalked for the first time in my life was pretty awesome. I don’t understand what everyone complains about.”

“Well, ineveryone’sdefense, I’m pretty sure most stalkers areactuallystalking, and much creepier than me.”

“Really? People are creepier?”

“That’s it,” I reach beside me and toss a pillow at her.

Our laughter rings through the air and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel happiness course through my veins. True happiness not caused by someone else’s good fortune like what I feel when I spend time with Ethan and Olivia.

“Arrested Development,it is, you big baby. But for the record, you don’t know what you’re missing out on. Luke is the OG when it comes to TV boyfriends.”

She’s such a nut. I think I like her.

“But!” she holds up a finger like she’s about to lay down a very important rule. “We’re starting at the beginning so I’m not confused. We’re going to pee and get our food and drink ready now so we don’t have to pause the show.”

“Hardcore.”

“No denying,” she makes a clicking sound with her tongue, nods once and winks.

“Alright, let’s do it. I’ll snoop through your kitchen and get some food and drinks set out and ready while you’re doing your business in the bathroom. Then I’ll snoop through your bathroom while I pretend to take too long in there.”

She rolls her eyes and nods. “Sounds good. I mean, I guess I should be grateful you didn’t admit you were going to be digging through my underwear drawer, stealing some for later.”

“You don’t give me much credit. I’m a much sneakier stalker than that.”

“Good to know, Rex. Good to know.”

Chapter Ten

Chloe

What the ever-lovinghell is the temperature set on in my house? I’ve never been so hot in my life. It’s like a furnace has taken up residence in my body and is heating me up from the inside out.

And heavy. What ison me?

Holy moly. I think it’s a person. A real live person. A male person, by the sound of it, if the noise of his snoring is anything to go by.

Rex.

Rex spent the night.

We’re on the couch, fully clothed but still…

Rex Matthews spent the night.

And oh my word he smells divine. How does a person fall asleep on a couch andstillmanage to smell fresh and woodsy and masculine? But he does. And his hair, which isright in linewith my nose smells good too. He must have showered after he was at the salon this morning – or by the looks of it outside from the lack of light coming through the curtains, yesterday morning — because it’s not the same shampoo smell as what I used on him. It’s masculine also, like a spring rain with a hint of cologne. My stomach wooshes, my heart flutters. This guy. This sexy, kind, incrediblestrangeris getting all up in my feels.

Last night when he showed up at my door, I wasn’t as freaked out as I should have been, but there was no way I was going to let him know that. He just makes me comfortable in a way I can’t really explain, or understand. I’ve never really been a nervous person or someone who doesn’t see the good in people, but trusting is an entirely different thing. It should make me uneasy for how quickly I’ve trusted Rex but it doesn’t.

I wiggle a bit, noticing that his heavy arm is draped over my stomach, while the rest of his body leans on me. His cheek is pressed against my shoulder, hard chest on my side, sock-covered feet propped up on the coffee table and twisted in a way that can’t be comfortable.

The TV has gone to sleep, Netflix asking us if we’re still watching and the sky outside my living room windows is a deep black. I try to get a decent look at Rex’s sleeping form, but I’m stuck under his large body. Not an awful place to be but with the way his body is twisted, there’s no way he’s not going to be stiff and sore in the morning if we don’t move.

“Rex,” I whisper, jostling his shoulder.

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