Page 24 of Defying Ella
“Fine, don’t tell me.” I leaned toward him across the table. “I don’t care about your reasoning. It stops now.”
“Agreed.” He nodded a little too eagerly.
His gaze roamed my face, dropping to my lips and away so fast I could have imagined it. I pushed my chair back with a frown tugging at my lips. One day, I’d figure him out.
“Wait.” His hand shot out, catching my wrist. Jolts of electricity skimmed up my arm and I shook him off, sitting back down with a questioning look. “The truce. Are you in?”
On the surface, he appeared calm and in control, but I couldn’t miss the small hitch in his voice. I’d thrown Jared Michaels off-balance. Whether that would be a good or bad thing for me, I didn’t know.
What did I have to lose by agreeing though? I wasn’t the antagonistic one. Either it would work or it wouldn’t, but until he blew up again, I’d have a couple of hours or days of peace.
“Fine, but the first whiff of snark from you, and the deal’s off.” I took his hand and shook.
The tense lines around his eyes faded. I couldn’t miss the hope in the green depths. He smirked, trying to mask his relief no doubt.
“Fair enough. I can be a good friend, you’ll see.”
The timer went off on my phone, saving me from answering. There would have been no hiding the disbelief bubbling beneath the surface. Maybe if I went back to bed, the world would start making sense again.
I stood and Jared mimicked my actions. Ignoring him, I went to check on the curry, hoping that he’d disappear now that he’d had his say. All of the vegetables seemed to have cooked all the way through and the yellow liquid bubbled nicely. I gave the pot a stir and added a can of coconut milk before turning off the heat.
My heart leapt into my throat when I turned to find Jared standing right behind me.
“Do I need to tie a bell around your neck?” I snapped, stepping around him.
I grabbed the bag of rice off the breakfast bar and pulled out another pot.
“Can I help?” He held his hands up, trying to make me believe him harmless. If it wasn’t for the amusement shining in his eyes, I might have believed him.
I considered him for all of a second. He looked far too eager, and he’d asked for a truce, how could I send him away without undoing that?
“You can grab some plates and find me some lemon?”
He disappeared into the pantry and I almost sagged against the counter. If men were always this exhausting, I’d stay single for the rest of my life. I could be enough of a pain, thank you very much.
For the second time in an hour, we sat opposite each other. Only this time, we both had food to distract us. The moment I cleared my plate, I stood, desperate to escape the awkward atmosphere.
“Where are you going?”
“To do the dishes and then read in my room.” I glanced back at Jared still sitting at the table, staring after me.
A distinctly uncomfortable look overtook his features. His foot tapped against the hardwood floor, always restless.
“Stay up here. Please.”
My mouth opened and closed, stunned by the desperation beneath his words. It had been bad the other day but he’d tried to hide it then. Now he stared at me with open need and fear.
“I’ll light the fire. We don’t have to talk. Just stay up here. With me.”
I should have said no.
I should have told him it was a bad idea and locked myself in my room again.
Instead, I nodded, washed the dishes, with his help, and curled up on the sofa, with my phone in hand and Jared sprawled out on the less comfortable two-seater. I could barely focus on my book, too busy trying and failing to puzzle out this weird turn of events.
It made me soften, the fact he’d asked me to stay. I knew better. I really bloody did. Yet I stayed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
