Page 50 of Beyond the Stroke

So now it’s just me staring at Rory in his backwards hat. My eyes mesmerized by the way a few tufts of his thick, wavy hair peek out the front of it.

“You know what you bring out in me, Summer?”

“Frustration?” I guess, my eyes dropping to his lips.

He gives a quick shake of his head while his hands settle on the cabinet above.

“Protectiveness.”

I feel that protection. The way his large, solid body covers me like a shield, keeping me safe. But it’s nerve-racking, too. Something I’m not used to. Something unknown and intimidating.

“And what if I don’t want to be protected?” I whisper because any other volume won’t fit in the miniscule space between us.

Rory’s lips are inches from mine.

Those firm, luscious lips that I’ve caught myself staring at more than I want to admit.

He drops a hand from its position above me, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear before his palm settles on my jaw. His eyes intently search mine.

“That’s not an option.” He dips his head and my legs wobble. It’s taking every muscle fiber I have to not melt into a puddle right now.

Rory’s lips are on a crash course with mine when Edgar barks—sharp, loud, and completely ruining it. We break apart instantly. Both our eyes are on Edgar as he stares toward the door, a low growling sound I’ve never heard coming from him before. It’s like he’s trying to play protector along with Rory.

“Do you think it’s the rabid squirrels?” I tease, doing my best to recover from whatever just happened between us.

“Might be. I better stay the night, just in case.” He winks. “You’d be devastated if they attacked me on my way home.”

His cheeky smile has me all but convinced this thing with the squirrels is made up. I could call him on it and we could start another round, but I’m tired. And not ready to acknowledge whatever that moment was between us.

Rory creates his makeshift bed on the floor again, and I toss down his pillow. The one that smells like him from last night, the one I curled up with earlier today when I opened the back window of my van and sketched in my notebook.

This shouldn’t feel normal.

I pull the sheet up over me and roll over.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel safe.

Protected.

thirteen

. . .

RORY

“You look like hell,” Charlie announces right before he snaps me in the side, using his goggle strap as a sling shot.

“Jesus, Charlie.” I flick him on the ear. I know he hates it so it’s the only thing that I can do to get back at him.

We’ve just cleared the pool after practice and are headed to the locker room for showers.

“Late night?” Logan wiggles his eyebrows playfully.

It wasn’t that late, but I spent another shitty night on the floor of Summer’s van. I told myself it was for peace of mind. Either sleep in my bed worrying about her or stay close and know she’s okay.

While Summer snored softly from the loft, I replayed the moment I almost kissed her.

Repeatedly.

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