Page 10 of Indebted

I shot to my feet, more excited than I really should’ve been.

The universe was already repaying me for the shitty day last week.

Three more knocks sounded as I rounded the corner. “I’m coming,” I bellowed in case she decided to take off with my free food thinking no one was home.

I threw the door open.

Justin stood on the other side, jaw set, clad in black dress slacks, polished shoes, a light blue button down, and a loosened, navy blue tie.

The sight of him on the Ramirez’s cracked, concrete stoop was startling.

“…the hell?”

Chapter 4

Icleared my throat. “Justin, what are you doing here?”

His eyes were blazing. “You know exactly why I’m here,” his voice could’ve cut glass.

A few kids playing in the street stared at us. I’m sure if I looked real hard, I’d find more eyes behind windows.

I stepped back and ushered Justin in. “Come in. You stand out like a sore thumb outside.” Oh my god, was that a Mercedes in the street? “I hope you don’t have any valuables in there,” I mumbled and shut the door.

Justin looked ridiculous standing in the entry way that also made up part of the living room. His eyes swept the area, touching on the worn orange couch and crooked side table before settling back on me. The pissed expression never leaving his face.

“What is this?” He lifted his arms.

“’This,’” I mirrored his gesture, “could mean anything. Care to be more specific?”

I should’ve been more concerned about why he was here, but a sick part of me was thrilled.

In fact, the way my nonchalance made his jaw tick and nostrils flare was fascinating.

Maybe my panic attack had triggered a stroke.

“You live here?”

“Obviously.”

“Alone?”

The platoon of footwear off to the side of the front door was testament that I didn’t. “No.”

“How many people live here, Katie?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, realizing too little too late, that I was in an oversized clearance school shirt I’d picked up from the bookstore my freshman year. I wasn’t wearing a bra underneath. It was too fucking hot for that torture device, and it wasn’t like my boobs were anything to write home about. The shorts I wore were barely visible under the baggy shirt and Justin’s eyes did the same sweep of me that they did of the Ramirez’s house. His gaze felt like a physical touch against my too hot, and now too sensitive skin. “Do you have a reason for being here, Justin?”

His eyes lingering on the blue and gold print scrawled across my chest, before sliding down to my bare legs.

Even from ten paces away, I could see his jaw clench.

I remembered his words from the cellar, the same carnal look on his face. I wanted him to touch me.

My attention drifted to his hair, where not one strand was out of place. I wondered if it was as soft as it looked. I wondered what he looked like when he woke up in the morning after a wild night of sex.

I hastily looked away, focusing on the hand painted cross on the wall.

Not proper familial thoughts, Katie.