Page 69 of Endgame

I wanted him the other night, more than I dared to admit. The feel of him touching me, of being in his arms; it washauntingme. He turned me on like no one ever had before. And that kiss? Rourke had kissed me like he was starving for me.

Thinking about his lips on mine still made my toes tingle. I needed to shut it down and fast. Lusting after a boy who hated me was a very bad idea and a sure-fire way of getting my heart broken. I was catching feelings for him. That was bad because he wasn’t even nice to me. He was cruel and mocking and cold and I stillwantedhim…

Molly called me when I got off work Friday night, asking if I wanted to come over to watch a movie. Glad to have an excuse to avoid going home and facing Rourke, I had happily agreed. It was 2am when we finished a Twilight marathon so I ended up staying the night at her place.

When I walked back into the Owens’ residence just before eight the following morning, it was to a frosty reception and a trashed house. “Mind telling me where you were all night?” Rourke demanded, barreling into my bedroom after me.

“Mind telling me why I should?” I shot back, not bothering to look back at him. “Another thing; the house looks like a dump.” Shrugging, I added, “I hope you’re not expecting me to clean up after you.”

“I had a few friends over last night,” he muttered impatiently. “What about it?”

“Nothing. Just don’t expect me to clean up your mess.”

“Fine. I’ll do it myself when you tell me where you were all night?”

“I was out.”

“Six!”

“Rourke.” Slinging my backpack down on my bed, I flopped down beside it and yawned. Dammit, I shouldn’t have stayed up half the freaking night with Molly. I had an eight hour shift ahead of me and I was beyond exhausted.

“Where the hell were you?” Rourke repeated, blue eyes blazing and locked on mine. “You didn’t come home last night.” Slamming my bedroom door, he prowled towards me, looking both furious and relieved. “Youalwayscome home.”

“So, I changed my pattern for once,” I replied wearily, folding my arms behind my head. “I stayed at Molly’s.”

“Molly.” Rourke frowned. “You stayed at Molly Peterson’s place?”

“Yes, Rourke, I stayed at Molly’s place,” I shot back sarcastically. “Sorry I didn’t tell you, but I wasn’t aware I had to fill you in on my whereabouts.”

“My father left me in charge,” he countered, towering over my bed, his heated gaze focused entirely on me.

“Of Amelia,” I corrected. “Not me.” Speaking of… “WhereisAmelia?”

“At the Kings’ house,” he replied, still looking at me with a furious expression. “She’s staying over there again tonight.”

“Did you give her this much shit for staying out all night?”

“Shecalled,” he hissed.

“You’re overreacting here,” I shot back. “Making a mountain out of a molehill.”

“Well, sue me for actually giving a crap about you,” Rourke shot back angrily, running a hand through his already sexily disheveled dark hair. “For fuck’s sake, Six, you could’ve called and let me know you weren’t coming home.”

My heart skyrocketed at his words.

Sue me for actually giving a crap about you

He gave a crap about me?

He cared?

No,my brain hissed.No, he doesn’t!

“I didn’t think it mattered,” I mumbled meekly.

Rourke released a heavy sigh and sank down on the edge of my bed. “What if something had happened to you?”

“Nothing happened to me,” I heard myself placate, pulling myself into a sitting position. “Rourke, I’m –”

---