Page 59 of Built to Fall
Watching her, the way she moves, it feels different. There’s something off about the way she’s acting, even though she’s the same person. And maybe it’s the vision of her so carefree—wearing lingerie while dancing in my living room—clouding my thoughts, but tonight it feels like a different version of her. One I’ve never seen before.
It might also be because she’s drunk. The alcohol flooding her system has lessened her inhibitions, and I love seeing her in this light because of how much more authentic she seems. Like this is a more real version of her that she hides behind her normally uptight one.
Her robe, which I can’t stop looking at despite my best efforts, is no longer hiding the woman beneath it, and my eyes keep dragging back to her every time I try to focus on something else.
I watch as she tosses back another drink, grimacing at the taste but not slowing down. It’s like she’s trying to forget something. It’s clear in the way she keeps to herself and makes sure her gaze never stays on anyone for too long, like she’swaiting for something to happen. I wonder if it has something to do with the hospital or her not sleeping. All the things she asked me to forget happened.
And then she locks eyes with me from across the room.
For a moment, there’s nothing but that pull between us—the burn of shared silence—and it hits me harder than any insult she could shoot my way. I swallow, feeling the same burn in my throat, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this strange feeling that’s sitting heavy on my chest.
I find myself thinking, “This is why I find myself so attracted to her.”That sass of hers, coupled with how she pretends to hate me, is the type of sex appeal I’ve never found in any other woman. My cock notices just as much as my mind does.
The crowd around me is loud, the buzz of music and voices all blending into one unrecognizable noise. I catch sight of her again as she stumbles, barely catching herself on the counter, but I’m already moving before I can stop myself.
“Lina,” I call, my voice louder than I intend, and it cuts through the noise. She doesn’t look at me, still focused on not spilling her drink. But her back stiffens. “You okay?”
She looks over her shoulder and meets my eyes, narrowing them like she’s unsure whether she wants to answer. For a moment, there’s hesitation, the kind of pause where I can almost feel the wall she’s erecting between us.
“I’m fine, Grant,” she says, but it’s not convincing. It never is when she’s lying.
I walk up to Lina slowly, and the air between us feels thick. I’m aware of her robe—of the way her hands clutch the edges like they’re her only defense against everyone here. Against me.
“Yeah?” I lean in slightly, watching her. “Doesn’t look like it.”
She shrugs and takes another sip of her drink, the liquid sloshing in her cup. “I’m fine,” she repeats, louder this time, but there’s a slight tremor in her voice. She’s fading fast, losingherself in the alcohol, trying to mask something. “You know, you really shouldn’t be staring at me like that.”
I can’t help it.“Like what?”
“Like you want to do something.”
I’m already close enough that I could touch her if I wanted to, but I don’t. Not yet. “I’m not the one who showed up looking like a damn angel in lingerie.”
Lina’s cheeks go red, but she doesn’t seem to care. She lifts the cup again and drinks half of it in one go. “That is what Eden was going for: an angel.”
“You didn’t need the costume.” I can’t keep my grin hidden anymore.
“I thought you said the devil would suit me better?” Her words are starting to slur together, and I’m just grateful that Braxton and Cam have already started corralling people out of the house, putting the party to an end.
“I did. But right now, you look like heaven.” I step closer, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “And now I’m not so sure I’d survive either one.”
Lina’s hand flies over my mouth, like by doing so it would force me to take back what I said. “Stop smiling,” she reprimands softly, her voice breathy. “You’re not supposed to be flirting with me.”
“Says who?” I say against her hand.
She narrows those doe eyes, the dark amber shade making my chest tighten when they meet my gaze. She removes her hand and answers, “Says the fact that we hate each other.”
“Hate’s a strong word.”
Instead of responding, she goes to take another gulp of her drink. I grab her wrist, though, and take the cup gently from her hand and set it on the counter. “Okay, that’s enough,” I say, not unkindly. “You’re done.”
Lina doesn’t even argue, and that’s how I know she’s truly down for the count.
“You good?” I ask, quieter now. My hands hover near her waist, not quite touching her. I don’t want her to feel trapped, but I’m not going to let her fall either.
She looks up at me, eyes glassy and a little too honest. “You always show up at the worst time, Grant.”
“Yeah,” I say, trying to smile, even though my chest tightens at the way she says my name. “I do that on purpose.”
