Page 50 of Leave Me Behind
“You don’t want to know.” He pats his stomach and gives me a sour face.Oh God.“Alright, let’s find a dress, then get back to base.”
I follow behind him silently for a few beats before asking, “Did you know Bradshaw would be here today?” He doesn’t respond, nor does he stop walking.
I take that as a yes.
eighteen
. . .
Nell
Eren leftto shower ten minutes ago, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the pastel yellow dress he bought me. It’s simple. Mid-thigh length and sleeveless. I let my finger glide over the soft fabric and cautiously look at the door.
No one else is here. No one has to see.
I step out of my pants and pull my shirt off before slipping into the dress. There’s no mirror in here so I can’t see how it looks from afar, but I gaze down at the ripples the fabric makes, the way it makes my hips and waist look desirable. My hair is down and meets my mid-back; the dark brown strands complement the warm tone of the dress and my olive skin.
A timid smile coasts across my lips. I shut my eyes and, suddenly, I’m in the bookshop I use to daydream about. Lovely little dreams. Things that aren’t meant for me.
The door clicks and my shoulders tense. I look up and expect to see Eren, but I’m met with a masked man. It takes my brain a few seconds for it to click.
It’s Bradshaw.
He looks completely different in his heather-gray T-shirt and form-fitting black sweatpants. His mask is thin and his black hair isn’t swept back like it usually is. Messy strands fall over his forehead, still wet after his shower. His pale eyes widen on me and neither of us says a word. We just stand in this horrible fucking silence where both of us seem to be thinking,Why are you here?
Again.
Bradshaw’s eyes slowly move down my body, taking in the dress and my figure. His pupils dilate and his fists tighten at his sides, making the veins in his arms protrude more prominently.
“Okay stop fucking with me. Why are youhere?” He says calmly, but I don’t miss the jealousy that flashes through his eyes.
I turn away from him sharply, an act of vulnerability that is purely instinctual and takes me by surprise. My cheeks burn and I feel so stupid for him to see me in a goddamn dress.
“I asked you a question.”
Chills spread over my arms at the coldness in his voice. I reach for my pants to pull them back on, but Bradshaw is at my side in an instant and grabs my wrist tightly.
“Let go of me,” I say vehemently. His eyes fill more with curiosity now than rage. He notices my duffle bag on the ground beside the bed and looks at me intently.
“You’re staying with Eren instead of with the hostile squad?” Bradshaw sounds pissed. His features are hard to read, though, only being able to see his eyes. A small yearning to see his face again bubbles up in my chest.
I nod once. His broad shoulders loom over me and there’s nothing more that I want than for him to just leave.
“There wasn’t room for me in the other barracks,” I explain, even though I should just tell him to go eat shit instead. I’m stillunsteady after he took me out to the open ocean on a surfboard. He studies me thoughtfully for a second. I can feel his pulse against my skin, his palm still wrapped snugly around my wrist.
He releases me but doesn’t take a step back.
“What do you want, Bones?” I grind my teeth at the way his mask shifts into the hint of a smile beneath it when I say his code name.
“Well, I was coming in here to see my brother, but I found myself a prettied up little creature instead. Were you hoping he’d fuck your brains out if you wore a dress?Ah, wait.Eren isn’t into rodents… or lago-whatever-sluts.” His voice has that pouty sarcastic sound to it. There’s nothing more I want than to punch him square in the jaw.
“Lagomorphs, you dumb ass.”
He doesn’t blink. “I bet that word means a lot to you.”
“Jealous much?” I shove his chest, but he doesn’t budge an inch.
“Me? Jealous over a slut? Yeah, keep dreaming.”
