Page 35 of Ignition

Thump.

My body collided with another warm, hard one. Crashed into it, more like, judging by the way the impact rearranged my brain. A subtle scent of sandalwood forced itself into my nostrils as large hands shot out to steady me before I could stumble backwards and fall on my ass.

My head tipped up so I could see who it was, and my mouth opened automatically to thank them—only for a pair of ice-blue eyes to stare back at me.

You gotta be kidding me!

Awareness slapped me in the face.

His body pressed against mine, close enough his heart as good as pounded into my chest. Strong hands held fast to my waist—and when had my own flown to his shoulders?

Probably somewhere between fear for my life and the sheer mortification of now.

My skin flushed all over and my pulse rabbited in the hollow of my throat, sharp, thunderous staccatos I feared he might see with the naked eye.

“Careful,” he rasped. “You could’ve knocked someone out.”

His hands lingered for a moment that stretched forever as his gaze poured into mine.

I could see the individual shards of blue behind his lashes.

Way too close.

As if he’d read my mind, his fingers whispered off me, kicking up angry goose pimples in their wake.

I staggered back a step.

Nearly tripped on my own feet.

My lungs struggled to draw breath for some reason, let alone inflate my chest enough for intelligent speech. I reached for the biting remarks, for the sarcasm. Came up empty.

My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out everything else, including what he’d just uttered. I had to read it off his lips.

“…you going?”

My skin itched all over. My fingers yanked against the too-tight collar of my sweater as I staggered back another step.

“N-none of your business.” It came out all breathy and wrong.

His mouth parted and his eyes widened a fraction—enough for the urge to bolt to kick up under my ribs. Or maybe it was my heart doing the kicking.

I didn’t wait to find out. I turned on my heel and raced out, not knowing or seeing where I was going, the hallway blurring at the edges of my vision.

The cool evening air kissed my molten skin, a welcome reprieve for whatever medical condition had flared up. Probably the flu. Rapid-onset, stress-induced flu. I could not accept another explanation.

No way was my body on fire because of Josh.

Absolutely not.

Much later, when my breathing had finally settled, I trudged up to my room, only to find my darkened laptop screen blinking up at me. Slow. Judgemental.

Oh, shit.

My cheeks still burned as I sank into my chair to check the all-too familiar square.

No updates.

The disappointment should’ve stung.