Page 76 of The Off-Limits Play

There’s a dampness in the air, and I can practically sniff out the rain.

I shiver, wrapping my arms around my waist as I wait for him.

We’ll have to make this quick. I don’t want my hair getting wet. Or any part of me. My body tenses, waiting for that first drop.

Dammit, I should have found somewhere quiet inside.

Dumb move, Nylah. Just check that he’s okay, then get your butt inside.

I ping straight as soon as I hear his footsteps. They’re kind of heavy, and I step away from the trees, appearing in the glow from the house windows.

“Hey.” I smile, wrapping my arms around his neck as soon as he’s close enough.

He’s stiff as a board and refuses to hug me back.

“It’s okay,” I whisper against his ear. “No one can see us out here.”

After a soft sigh, he starts to relax, his arm curling around my waist.

“I’ve missed you this week.”

He grunts, and I smile against his cheek.

“I know you’ve missed me, too, so don’t even bother denying it.” Leaning away from him, I gaze up at his tortured expression, my heart crumpling. “What it is?”

“Nothing.” He shakes his head, and I can’t help laughing.

“It’s obviously something. You can talk to me. I’m here for you. Whatever it is, I?—”

“It’s nothing!” he snaps.

I go quiet, biting my lips together and nodding.

“Fuck,” he mutters, leaning forward and pressing his cheek against mine.

His arm circles back around my waist, and he holds me against him like he’s trying to draw strength from my body. All I can do is hold him back as we start to sway.

It’s like a back-and-forth slow dance, and I can’t help a soft smile as I run my fingers through the back of his hair and try to comfort him.

I’m desperate to know what’s wrong, but he’s obviously not gonna tell me. He must have had a really shitty day. He wouldn’t tell me why he was too busy to hang out. He just told me he had some stuff to do, and I wanted to respect his privacy.

But what was he doing to make him this tortured?

Do I push?

Do I?—

A raindrop hits my nose, and I flinch.

Shit. I need to get inside.

I’m about to pull away and tell Carson we have to take this hug someplace else when an annoying voice cuts through our moment like a chainsaw.

“Busted! I knew you were fucking her! Oh man, you are so dead!”

Carson pulls away from me, jerking around to snarl at the guy. “Fuck off, Fleischer!”

Oh shit. It’s the guy from a few nights ago. The one who denied me the chance to kiss Carson good night.

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