Page 88 of Built to Fall
Grant’s head snaps toward me. His expression is unreadable for a beat. Then, slowly, the corners of his mouth lift into a softer, less cocky smile than usual as he swings his arm around my shoulders. “Yeah. Of course you can.”
The air between us shifts—not heavy or complicated. More comfortable. I can’t stop myself from resting my head on his bicep.
“Cool,” I say, tucking my hands into the pockets of my sweatshirt to hide how much they’re shaking. “Cool, cool.” It’s likely the most awkward thing I’ve said in my entire life.
He shakes his head, clearly trying not to laugh. “Can you go back to being a bitch? This is weird.”
I don’t flinch at the word—I never do when it comes from him. There’s no real bite behind it, just the familiar rhythm of our banter.
“As soon as you start being a douchey asshole again,” I remark. “But considering you agreed to let me sleep in your bed, I’d say that’s not happening anytime soon.”
“You should also consider the fact that a majority of campus now believes you are carrying my baby,” he jokes.
“Let’s go up to your apartment before I throw up on your shoes.”
“Listen,” he says, stopping in front of my door after our short walk back. “I get it. You’re trying not to become dependent on me by sleeping in my bed. That's why I haven’t pushed it. But we know it works, and you can actually get sleep now. It doesn’t mean you owe me anything.”
I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed—not out of defiance, but because I don’t know what to do with the part of me that still resists softness when it’s offered so freely.
“Okay,” I finally agree. “Butif it ever gets too annoying for you, promise you’ll tell me.”
He doesn’t bother placating me, telling me any empty reassurance like,“That would never happen.”Instead, he nods, following me into my apartment. I pack a bag before meeting Grant back in the living room and following him down the hall toward his place.
“I’m going to take a wild guess and say that your front door is unlocked!” I yell back toward him.
He’s standing behind me now. “And I’d say you’re probably right.”
Just like that, I twist the knob and open it without any resistance. “How am I supposed to feel safe sleeping here if—oh my God!” I slap my hand over my eyes when I turn back and catch a glimpse of what’s happening in the living room. “I’m blind.”
“What the fuck, guys?” Grant yells, somewhere between amused and horrified.
Eden shrieks and shoves Cam off of her like he’s radioactive, scrambling to fix her hair as she glares at us.
I have no idea how long this has been going on, or how Eden got in this position with our neighbor, but it’s not abnormal.
She’s a hopeless romantic who also loves to have sex, and she’s completely unashamed of that fact. Until she’s in an actual relationship like the one she’s dreaming of, she sticks to casual hookups.
“You weren’t supposed to be home yet!” she accuses, pointing at us.
“Maybe lock the damn door next time!” Grant fires back, but he’s laughing.
Cam grins lazily from where he’s slouched on the couch, looking completely unbothered. “What’s up, guys?”
Eden ignores him and zeroes in on me instead. “Wait.” Her eyes narrow, finger still pointed like a weapon. “You.You’rethe reason everyone’s texting me about a baby!”
“Uh—”
“I totally knocked her up,” Grant says smoothly, slinging an arm around my waist way too comfortably.
I elbow him in the ribs so hard he grunts. “No,I’mnotpregnant.It’s a joke.”
“She’sprobablynot,” Grant adds unhelpfully.
This time, I step on his foot.
Eden giggles and throws her head back. “You two are idiots.”
“My phone’s blowing up. People arebettingon it in the team group chat,” Cam adds.
