Page 82 of Reckless
His eyes go wide as understanding blooms on his face. “Sorry, man. See ya tomorrow.”
I give him a nod and prop my hands on my hips, eyes latched onto Winter. She’s intentionally avoiding my gaze now. I can tell by the tense set of her jaw and the vein throbbing in her neck.
When the door slams shut, Winter flinches, and I watch a subtle pink flush dust her high cheekbones.
“Winter. Look at me.”
“No, thank you.” Her jaw pops. So stubborn. Reminds me of getting Vivi to settle down the other night. Must get that from her mom.
“Should I turn the lights off and leave you here?”
“Well, you’ve got the leaving me alone part down pat. Why stop now?”
With only a couple of steps, I’m behind her, crouching at the head of the bench, one hand gently cupping her throat as I stare down at her face. “It’s almost like you’ve forgotten I like when you hiss at me, Winter.”
Her wide blue eyes snap to mine.
“Tell me what you’re doing.”
“Lying here.” She fires the words from between her lips like projectiles.
“Why?” My hand tightens, fingers gripping her chin to tip her head back and have her look at me.
“Gravity.”
“Gravity?”
“Because if I sit up straight, the tears will fall out. And I don’t cry.” I notice it then, the sheen to her eyes, the way they fill as I watch. My chest seizes at the sight. Her face is a window into all her feelings. “I’m not at my best right now, Theo. I’m in a bad mood. I’m angry, and it doesn’t even make sense. You should leave me alone.”
“You know what I think, Winter?” My thumb strokes over her pulse point.
“No, but I bet you’re going to tell me anyway.”
“I think people mistake you being in a bad mood when you’re just overwhelmed. I think you needed to lie here for a few minutes with no oneneedingyou. I think you’re overstimulated and even the best of us require some time to collect ourselves.”
She nods, lips rolling together, and one lone tear slips down her cheek, my thumb brushing it away almost instantly.
“I don’t—”
“I know.” I nod solemnly. “I’m pretty sure it’s a leak in the ceiling.”
She snorts now, head shaking as her hands cover her face. “Why are you so nice to me?”
“We’ve been over this. It’s because I like you.”
“That was a year and a half ago.” Her hands drop to my arm, but not to push me away. They rest there.
“Well, you’re hard to forget. And the thing is, I like you even more now.”
“Is that why you keep putting my clothes back on me?”
I still. “What?”
“The other night you took one look at me and pulled my nightgown back down. Today you covered me up again. It feels like you don’t like what you see.”
With a growl, I push her up to sitting, swing a leg over the bench and straddle the seat behind her. One arm around her ribs tugs her straight back into me and I see her shocked expression in the mirror’s reflection.
“Don’t like what I see?” Her back is pressed up against my chest, pulse vibrating through her body. “Winter, you have no fucking idea what I see. No fucking clue how hard I’m trying not to be another person who needs something from you. I’m prioritizing what life has thrown at us in the past few weeks. I’m trying to giveyouwhat youneed. But if you think I don’t like what I see, then I’m not the one who needs his head checked.” I swipe her ponytail to the side of her neck and drop a kiss on the top of her slender shoulder. “Because your wellbeing has quickly become my number one priority.”
