Page 19 of Defying Ella
“Yes, but I didn’t stare at you with that menacing look. I don’t watch you closely while you eat.” I pushed my chair back, my appetite completely forgotten.
“I wasn’t watching you.” He mirrored my movements, his expression pinched.
“Geez, Jared. Keep telling yourself that.” I picked up the plate and walked around the table.
I made my way to the kitchen area, muttering beneath my breath the entire time.
With a grimace, I scraped the contents into the bin.
“I’m trying to be nice, for fuck’s sake, Els,” Jared shouted. “What more do you want from me?”
Slowly, I turned on my heel, my jaw slack. “Making me dinner was being nice, granted. The watchful silent treatment not so much.”
“You didn’t want to talk to me.”
“Pretty sure I said I didn’t want your barbs. Civil conversation would have been a pleasant surprise.” I placed the plate on the side of the sink and dried my hands. Shrugging, I continued, “If you didn’t plan to attempt that, you should have done something else while I ate. All you wanted was a person sharing space with you, right?”
I didn’t need him to confirm that he’d rather it be anyone but me. That was a given.
His jaw shifted but he kept his lips shut.
“No need to sugarcoat it for me, Jared. You don’t like me, and our first week was a fluke. Memo received loud and clear.” I canted my head to the side, considering his tight-lipped expression. He stood with his arms crossed and an edge that almost convinced me he would deny every word. Instead, he glanced away. “You want someone filling space, fine. Just don’t make this any more difficult than it has to be. You keep to yourself, and I’ll do the same. Deal?”
Rather than respond, he turned on his heel and stomped towards the patio doors. I watched him go, confusion rippling through me when he tugged the door open and stepped outside barefoot, wearing nothing more than jogging bottoms and a t-shirt.
It must have been freezing outside.
The things he’d do to escape me knew no bounds it seemed.
Iwaited ten minutes loitering in the kitchen, pretending to clean the worktops while I waited for Jared to come back in. Time ticked by, and still nothing. I resisted the urge to retreat to my room and had to stop myself from going out onto the deck to check on him at least three times.
He must be freezing.
Despite the concern, reason won out. If I attempted to be kind, he’d rip into me. Even the strongest person could only take so much.
Now if only I could find my bite…
I poured myself a glass of wine and paused for all of a second before grabbing the bottle. There would never be a better time for a wine hangover. I didn’t have anywhere to go in the morning, so I might as well take advantage. Glancing around the empty living space, I hesitated before sinking onto the sofa. He couldn’t have a go at me for doing what he asked.
I hoped.
For half an hour, I alternated between reading the same line over and over again and staring at the sliding door from beneath my lashes. Tension rode through my muscles while I gnawed at my lip and tiptoed closer and closer to the line that would force me out onto the deck with a scowl.
Thatwould not go down well. But even knowing it, Icouldn’t stem the concern. He didn’t have to make himself sick just to avoid me.
Just as I emptied my first glass, the door whooshed open. I couldn’t stop my gaze from flying to it and the shivering man stepping inside.
“Are you okay?” I forced myself to sit still and not rush him like instinct screamed for me to do.
His lips were practically blue. He nodded and collapsed on the opposite sofa, shaking so hard his teeth chattered.
Don’t say it. Keep your mouth shut.
I handed him the blanket from the back of my sofa. He thanked me but didn’t say another word.
A frown itched to claim my lips. If he wanted to do stupid shit, that was on him. Yet, Icared. Instead of focusing on that odd occurrence or reaming him for being an idiot, I set the weird anxious energy inside me to lighting the fire. All the while, my neck itched with the pressure of his stare.
With the flames quickly taking over the stack of wood, I had no choice but to face him. Bracing myself for animosity, the soft, almost wistful expression on his face took me by surprise. His teeth had stopped chattering, thankfully, but he held the blanket tight around his shoulders.
