Page 32 of Fall Apart

No. I’ve spent years building routine on top of routine, craving control over my life. I enjoy theverylimited number of relationships I have to maintain and manage. Plus I love my space and having my privacy and solitude.

So yes, I must be crazy or maybe I suffered from a temporary moment of insanity.

I needed to make things right with Lizzy. It’s my fault she can’t stay in her condo.

But inviting her to stay here as long as it takes, to be in my space, is fucking crazy. Masochistically crazy.

She gets under my skin so damn easily when I see her in small doses. And I go and invite her to stay with me?

I need to stay focused with work because I’m clearly dropping the ball lately. I don’t need distractions.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” I mutter out loud between breaths. Ani quirks his head up at me and I snort a laugh.

After a couple more laps of thinking about that question, we head inside. I take Ani’s snow boots and my shoes off, putting them onto the tray next to the door. I flip on the lights and look around the kitchen and living room. I’m startled by the sound of pots and pans clattering on the floor.

Yep, I’m definitely a masochist.

On the floor, on her knees across the kitchen from me is Lizzy. She’s rummaging through one of the lower cabinets like a feral raccoon, whose contents are now scattered around her on the floor. She’s wearing some plaid sleep shorts and I can make out the curve of her ass and can’t look away from her toned legs.

Fuck. Me.

I can feel my blood pulsing through my body, but I don’t know if it’s from seeing her in this position or catching my breath from running. I clear my throat. “Can I help you?”

The clattering and clanging stops and she freezes in place. “Coffee.” Her voice is irritated but muffled because she’s still neck deep in the cabinet.

I stand there, looking around the kitchen, noticing all my other cabinets open. I can feel the vein in my forehead throbbing. This is the kind of shit that drives me mad. I can’t stand clutter and my things being out of order.

“There isn’t any,” I say, trying to hide my irritation. She shuffles away from the cabinet and looks over her shoulder at me. Her blue eyes stare at me like I have two heads.

“You don’t have coffee in this house or food for a sane person that doesn’t eat like a robot?”

I roll my eyes and snort a laugh, amused at the sight in front of me. I’ll give her this. She’s a wildcard.

“I feel like the answer to that is pretty obvious.”

She stares back at, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head at me, prompting me to explain.

“You’ve seen me almost every morning for the last few weeksbuyingcoffee.” I gesture around the kitchen. “Clearly, I go out to get it.”

She sighs and hangs her head. “Of course, this house is too good to be true.” She stands and leans against the counter, crossing her arms just at the hem of her cropped t-shirt. I can’t stop staring at her. She’s wearing shorts with the waistband folded over showing off those hip bones. I suddenly want to reach out and grab her. With the way her arms prop her tits up, I have to look away before blood starts rushing to my cock. My running shorts definitely won’t do me any favors hiding that.

Masochist definitely sounds accurate right now. I’m into my brother’s fiancée’s best friend. She’s very off limits, but man she makes it hard when she’s in my damn house wearingthat.

I walk over to the kitchen, slowly shutting cabinets and putting things away. “Next time, can you please wait for me to get back before you throw all my stuff around the kitchen?” My tone is rough and clipped. I don’t want to be mean, but I hate when my stuff is out of order and not where I expect it to be.

“Fine,” she groans. I reach her and lean against the counter next to her.

I look into those blue eyes, forcing her to crane her neck to meet mine. “Come on. Put some clothes on and I’ll take you for coffee and groceries.”

She rolls her eyes and tosses her head back and forth. “What’s wrong with my clothes?” Her lips curl into a smirk and points a finger at me, running it up and down. “You’re wearing basically the same thing.”

I groan and scowl at her. “Because my shorts don’t have half my ass hanging out and my shirt isn’t showing off my abs in the freezing cold.”

She huffs a laugh. “Shame.” She turns away from me and flicks her ponytail, hitting me in the face with it. I watch, open mouthed as she saunters towards the hall to the bedrooms. “I’ll be right back.”

“Hurry up,princess.”I call back in a growl, glad she’s looking away as I watch her hips sway.

“You’re ridiculous.You know that, right?” I stand next to my truck, holding open the door and watch Lizzy practically have to jump out of the truck, kicking up a puff of snow when she hits the ground. “What? You said put on clothes and I did.”

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