Page 32 of Embracing the Beat
“You saw—”
“I didn’t look,” he says. “I closed my eyes.”
“Are you lying?” I can’t say one way or the other, unsure of what his tells are. Does he ever lie, considering what he told me the other night?
“Yes. But would it make you feel better if I didn’t?”
“A little,” I grumble.
“Then pretend I had my eyes closed.” He stretches, moving his arms overhead and revealing a sliver of toned stomach between his t-shirt and lounge pants. “Now that you’re awake, we should probably feed you.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Your body will want food once it’s reminded what it tastes like.”
“Okay, Mr. Know-It-All.” I stick my tongue out at him, and he smirks.
His expression does crazy things—that don’t involve hunger—to my stomach. Not that particular kind of hunger anyway.
“Don’t you forget it.” He shifts from the bed and looms over me, and again, I’m reminded of the other night, my traitorous body responding predictably. “I’ll get something started. Want to head down? Or should I bring something up?”
“Down,” I say automatically.
Staying in bed—in West’s bed—is too confusing, muddling my brain even more after being sick for the last few days.
“Okay.”
“I’m going to shower first, then I’ll be down,” I tell him, trying to ignore the way the fire sparks to life in his eyes.
“I’d offer to help, but—”
The end of the sentence hangs between us, and I swallow, knowing exactly why we can’t. Why we shouldn’t.
“I’ll be down soon.”
He nods but doesn’t say another word before he leaves the room. I collapse against the pillows on a sigh. Maybe staying here is a bad idea now since West and I have slept together. But what other options are there?
My legs are shaky when I stand, and I sway like I’m on a ship the entire walk down the hall to my room for fresh clothes and my phone. West must have plugged it in since it’s on the charger, and I remember having it in bed with me. A handful of texts from Mia are waiting and grow more concerned with each new thread.
MIA: Remind me again why I left my hot AF husband to come shoot a movie where all it does is rain?
MIA: I’m never going to complain about no rain again.
MIA: Kayla?
MIA: I hope the reason you’re not answering is because you’re enjoying your time off. *wink emoji*
MIA: And by enjoying time off I mean climbing your roommate like a tree.
MIA: Okay, I need some sign you’re alive, please.
MIA: Michaela?
MIA: You didn’t answer your phone.
MIA: Where are you?
MIA: If I don’t hear from you by this afternoon, I’m calling the cops.
