Page 78 of Swan

Surprise, I raised my brows. “Really?”

“Yeah, about a month ago.”

I nodded, staring at his chin that had some stubble on it. “Look at you all grown up and moved out before me.” God, I sounded like a loser still living at home.

Drake snorted. “Believe me, living out of home ain’t that good when the bills come in. Try to stay with your folks for as long as you can. Or until you’ve saved a million dollars.”

Abrupt laughter slipped out of me. “In other words, I need to live with my parents until I’m old and grey.”

I met his gaze for a second and saw his eyes were near sparkling. I looked away, blushing. Why did he have to appeal to me? Did it have to do with the flirting he did? Maybe. But I also thought it was because he always made me laugh or smile.

He was just being kind. He never meant anything by the attention. Drake had many women vying for his attention. He could pick absolutely anyone.

“You should come by sometime.”

I froze from his suggestion. Me alone with Drake in an apartment? No. That wouldn’t work. I already fought with myself whenever he was around, worried I’d get caught staring at him longingly.

It was too soon.

It was wrong.

And if I was alone with him, I worried my restraint would fly out the window.

Drake made me feel like myself. Like I had before everything. He made me warm and fuzzy, and those feeling were easy to become addicted to after being cold and lifeless for so long.

God, why was I fighting my attraction when it seemed just being around Drake was enough to revive me?

Because he won’t want you.

Because you worry what everyone will think.

That I didn’t love Lockland and had moved on like a worthless?—

“Swan?”

I blinked and lifted my gaze. I wanted to smooth the worry line between his brows.

Wait, Drake had asked me a question.

“Um.” I licked my dry lips. “I could drop by one time. But I really need to get going now.” My mind was a whirlpool of damaging thoughts, and I wouldn’t make a rash decision on anything until some of the mess cleared up.

Drake reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder. I bit down on my bottom lip and stared at the ground as my heart hammered. He ran his hand slowly down my arm to my hand, where he squeezed.

“My door’s always open for you, Birdy. Come by whenever you want.”

My door’s always open for you.

He was too sweet for his own good sometimes.

“T-Thanks.” I took a step back and would have fallen down the curb if he hadn’t caught me around the waist.

With a chuckle, he said, “You gotta watch where you’re steppin’, darlin’.”

I liked his warm arm around me.

I forced a laugh. “Sorry.” I moved out of his grip and stood beside my car door. “I can’t believe I managed to do that.” I unlocked the door and opened it. “It was good to see you,” I said.

“Maya mentioned you’re goin’ to Melbourne. Just wonderin’ if you decided to be on the back of my bike or go in the car with Ruby?”

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