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Ben peered out of the door and tiptoed across the hallway to Tyler’s room.
“Where are you going?” I whispered.
“You want to try walking out the back door while they’re down there?” he snapped over his shoulder.
“I was just asking, jeez.”
We slipped back into Tyler’s room and I closed the door behind us as Ben jimmied the window open.
He looked around outside, hopped out the window, and disappeared from sight.
Crap. He really had left without me.
I dashed to the window and leaned out. Ben was getting to his feet, dusting his tracksuit bottoms off as he turned to look up at the window.
“Come on, then.” He beckoned to me.
“Are you crazy?” How had he jumped from the first floor unscathed? I stood no chance.
“It’s not that far. Come on, or we’ll get caught!”
“I thought I was your scapegoat?”
Ben massaged his temples, eyes closed. “Just get down here.”
“I can’t jump that far.”
“I’ll catch you.” Ben waded through the grass with his arms out until he positioned himself right beneath the window.
Was he insane?
“Like hell you will.”
“Weren’t you the one advocating for cooperation so our families don’t get all riled up? Just trust me.”
I could fall farther than I trusted him. But I didn’t exactly have much choice.
I clambered out of the window and hung on to the ledge for dear life. As I lowered myself down to just my fingertips, I dared to look down.
Ben reached up, almost able to touch my shoes.
I could only hope he wouldn’t step aside and let me break my neck.
“Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.” My fingertips gave, and I plummeted toward the ground.
I tumbled into Ben’s outstretched arms, but the force of my descent knocked him backwards and we tumbled into a heap in the grass.
For a second, I blinked, dazed. A pleasant cologne teased my senses, which seemed almost familiar. I lay on Ben’s chest, my hand splayed on his exposed hip.
The feel of his skin sent sparks through my fingers.
One of his palms heated the small of my back, while the other grasped my arm. As I looked up, our eyes met and my heart jolted. My body flushed with heat and the urge to burrow into him ripped through me.
I rolled off him at the same time he pushed me off. Scrambling to our feet, we dashed for the fence, hopped it, and melded into the tree line.
“Um, thanks,” I said, running a hand through my hair as we slowed to a jog.
“Don’t mention it.”
