Page 60 of Under Pressure

If anyone else asked me that, I’d tell them to fuck off. “Anger management,” I finally say after a minute’s silence.

“About your family? How you think they don’t love you even though they obviously do?”

I glance over at her sharply. “I know what it seemed like tonight, but I promise you, that’s not the norm.”

“Your mom said she invites you over all the time, but you hardly accept.”

“Because they don’t want me there.” Shit, I didn’t mean to say that.

“They do. Why would they invite you over otherwise? Why would they go out of their way to include you?”

“They—” I pull at the neckline of my shirt, suddenly warm. “They have to. They’re obligated.”

“You’re an adult who hasn’t lived at home for almost three years. That’s a long con for them to keep up if you think they have some kind of ulterior motive.”

“Whose side are you on?” I blurt out.

“There are no sides. But I have your best interests at heart.”

“I—I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

I can sense her eyes on me, but resist looking over. “Okay,” she finally says.

Now I glance over, surprised she gave up so easy.

“I respect your boundaries, Tyler. I won’t push you if you outright tell me to stop. But I’m here to talk if you ever need to.”

“Yeah.” I swallow. “Okay.”

We sit in silence, not exactly comfortable, but not awkward either. That restlessness is coursing through me again, but the boxing gym is already closed for the night. “When we get back to your place,” I ask her, “can I come in?” She has to know there’s only one reason I’d ask to come in this late at night.

“Yes,” she whispers, the slight sound full of promise.

We leave it at that, the atmosphere in the car becoming charged with a much more welcome kind of tension.

Just five minutes left to her apartment. And once we’re there, I don’t have any talking planned.

Chapter Seventeen

Mia

Tyler parksthe car outside the entrance to my building, both of us still silent. It was hard to get a read on him tonight at his parents’ house. He seemed alternately unhappy and pleased at the way his family was treating him, like he wanted to think the worst of them, and then surprised when they acted the opposite.

Or maybe he was just annoyed they were treating us as if we were a couple, even though he very clearly told them we aren’t. He only said we work together. Nothing about our arrangement, which I don’t blame him for keeping mum about, but not even about being friends. I don’t think it’s a case of being ashamed of me, more that he seems to keep them at arm’s length, no matter how hard they try to lessen that distance.

I understand how they feel. If he would just let go of this old hurt he’s holding on to, his life would be so much richer for it. But you can’t make someone change. Only they’re capable of doing that. All I can do is show him I’m here for him, that I won’t betray him or whatever else he thinks the people in his life will do to him.

I unlock the front door, my hands slightly trembling for some reason. The lights are out, the apartment actually the correct temperature for a change instead of boiling hot. Kelsey must not be home. He slides my coat from my shoulders, hanging it on the hook by the door, then does the same with his own, all the while maintaining eye contact with me.

I can barely breathe, the mood between us shifting. It’s like I’m being stared down by some kind of predator, unable to look away for fear he’ll pounce when I do.

But don’t I want that?

He stalks toward me, crowding my body as he presses me against the front door, kissing me hungrily.

Yes. This is what was building those last few minutes in the car, whatever he had leashed finally free. I wrap my arms over his shoulders, kissing him back with equal enthusiasm. He tastes like desire, a fantasy come to life, exploring my mouth, my senses consumed by him.

His hands drift down my torso until they reach my ass, squeezing, lifting me up until my legs are wrapped around his waist and he’s carrying me into my bedroom.

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