Page 97 of Cinder
Evan exhales, his gaze dropping to his hands before lifting back to me. “He will be.”
I swallow, my fingers worrying lightly at the edge of my shirt again. “That’s a lot for someone so little.”
“Yeah,” he says again, quieter this time.
“He reminded you of Elle.” It’s not a question.
He bites the inside of his cheek. “About the same age.”
I sit with that for a moment, letting it settle instead of pushing further, and when I glance back at him, I catch the way his shoulders are still holding tension, even now, like he hasn’t fully come down from it.
“You didn’t wanna be alone,” I say softly, and his eyes flick to mine. “That’s why you stayed out here? On the couch?”
There’s a pause. “Didn’t feel like going to bed yet.”
It’s not the full answer, but I nod anyway, accepting it for what it is.
“You could’ve woken me…”
His eyes meet mine, and he studies me for a beat, then they drop to my mouth briefly. “You need sleep too, Pen.”
“You always do that,” I say, unable to stop myself. “Put everyone else first.”
For a moment, I think he’s going to deflect, but instead, he holds my gaze.
“Not everyone.”
My pulse trips, and the insinuation lands heavy between us. Because that’s the problem, isn’t it? He means it.
I become aware of everything all at once. The way I’m sitting too close to him, my leg brushing against his and absorbing the warmth from his body, the quiet way his hands are resting on his thighs like he’s holding himself in place.
I search his face, looking for hesitation, for doubt, foranythingthat gives me an out.
“You don’t even know me that well, Evan.”’
“Yeah,” he says roughly, brow furrowing. “That’s kinda the fucking problem.”
I blink at him. “What?”
He drags a hand down his face and looks away like he already regrets saying it. “You’re in my house, and Elle’s attached to you…I’mattached to you.” His laugh is short and humorless. “And I don’t even know what the hell we’re doing.”
“Oh.” I nod once, trying to keep my voice casual as something sharp twists through me. “Right.”
His brows pull together slightly at my tone, but I’m already shifting back, putting space between us before he can see too much on my face. Because of course. Of course, I’ve overstepped.
“I should probably go back out to the guest house now,” I say quietly. “Now that you’re home.”
“Pen—”
“It’s okay.” I stand too fast, smoothing my hands over my shorts like that’ll somehow steady me. “You had a bad call, and I think maybe I read this wrong—”
“Jesus Christ.” He pushes forward suddenly, frustration cracking through his voice. “That’s not what I meant.”
But I shake my head, my body already feeling tight and hot with humiliation. “I don’t wanna make things harder for you, and I certainly don’t want to overstep. I’m so sorry.”
I turn before he can answer, but I barely make it a step before his hand closes around my wrist.
“Penny.”
