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She looks at the window, then up at me. “I don’t know. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea…you spending the night.”
“You don’t feel safe with me?”
“Um…” She bites her lip. “It’s not that. Well, maybe it is a little. I mean, we did just meet and although you seem safe, sometimes looks can be deceiving.”
“I totally get it,” I say, glad that she’s being cautious. I’m not a threat but some other guy could be so it’s good she’s not as trusting as I originally thought. I just met her but I already feel this need to protect her, and honestly, I don’t like her living out here by herself with nobody around. I’m her closest neighbor and my house is two miles away.
“I’ll close the windows for you before I go.” I move the window side to side, then shove it down to get the lock to slide in place. The windows are so old the frame is warped and doesn’t fit right when you try to close it.
“Actually, if you wouldn’t mind,” she says in a hesitant tone.
“Wouldn’t mind what?”
“If you wouldn’t mind staying, Iwouldlike to air the place out. Closing that window just now made it seem stuffy in here. I’m already smelling the couch again.”
“You could just open the windows tomorrow. Keep them open during the day.”
“I can’t. I’ll be at work. I don’t want the windows open while I’m gone.” She walks over to the hall closet and opens it up. “I don’t think I have a sleeping bag but I have lots of blankets and quilts, if that works.” She pulls out a quilt and brings it over to me.
“You sure about this?”
“As long as you promise to be on your best behavior.” She smiles.
“So no dancing to loud music or raiding your fridge in the middle of the night?”
She laughs. “My fridge is full of food you paid for so that’s not a problem. As for the music, you can play it as long as I get to come out here and dance with you.”
“Deal.” I shake her hand, and when our eyes meet I feel the need to kiss her again. From the look on her face, I think she’s waiting for me to do it, but I won’t. I’m not saying it won’t happen again in the future but for now, I want her to know I’m here to keep her safe and nothing more.
I let go of her hand and she looks away. “Do you need to go get anything?” she asks.
“No. I can sleep in my clothes.”
“Okay, well, if you need anything, I’m down the hall on the right.”
“Got it. Thanks!”
She nods quickly, then hurries down to her room. I think she’s nervous having me here, not because she’s scared, but because we both want to give in to our attraction to each other and don’t trust that we can make it a whole night without something happening.
It was probably a bad idea for me to stay here, not only because of what might happen between us, but also because I’m the last person who should be protecting her. I can barely protect myself.
As of now, I think I’m safe. But I know it won’t last. They’re looking for me. I know they are. And if they find me, they’ll kill me.
CHAPTERTEN
SAGE
“Kyle?”I say softly, not sure if he’s awake in the chair or just sitting there. The room is dark except for the light of the TV so it’s hard to tell.
“Hey,” I hear him say. He stands up. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I pull the blanket around me and sit down on the chair that’s opposite his. Now that the couch is gone, I should probably move the chairs to be beside each other, facing the TV, but last night, I didn’t move them because being that close to Kyle could’ve led us to do things it’s too soon to do. I’m not even sure he wants to do those things. I thought he did when we kissed, but ever since then, he’s kept his distance from me, almost like he’s trying to avoid me.
“What time is it?” he asks, sitting down again.
“A little after five.”
“What are you doing up so early? Do you have to get to work?”
