Page 200 of Override

But his shoulders straighten, and the teasing warmth that had been in his eyes disappears beneath something more serious.

My stomach tightens. "What?"

"We need to talk about today."

The lightness inside me begins to retreat. I look toward the windows. Morning sunlight is streaming through them now, illuminating a world that kept moving around me.

"Okay."

Keaton shifts on the couch until he's facing me fully. "You need to decide where you want to go." My fingers curl against my thighs. He notices. "I don't mean right this second."

"Then why are you asking me right this second?"

He frowns. "That's a valid point."

Despite myself, my mouth twitches.

He doesn't smile. "I need you to understand your options."

I look down at my hands. "What are they?"

"Anything."

I lift my eyes.

Keaton's expression is serious. "That's not an option."

"Technically, it encompasses all available options."

"Maeve."

"Right."

He pushes his glasses higher on his nose. "You can stay here. I have other places we can go if you don't want to stay here. You can go to your parents. Rachel has already offered her and Matt's house."

I stare at him. "She did?"

"Yes."

"She barely knows me."

"Rachel is like that." There's affection in his voice.

That strange little twist moves through my chest again. I don't like it any more this morning than I did last night.

"And..." Keaton pauses.

I already know. The warmth from a few minutes ago disappears. "And I can go back to Ronan."

His jaw tightens. "Yes." The answer sounds like it physically hurts him. I don't know why that makes it easier to breathe. "If that's what you choose, I'll take you."

I study his face. He means it. He'll hate it.

I can see that even behind the thick black frames of his glasses. His expression has gone carefully blank, but there's a muscle ticking near his jaw. Still, he'll do it. Because I asked.

I think that might be the most dangerous thing about Keaton. He keeps giving me choices. And I have absolutely no idea what to do with them.

"What if I stay here?"