I shook my head, a wry laugh escaping my lips as I began the walk back to the guesthouse. “You’re certifiable, Sinclair.”
“As you keep saying.” Kyler fell in step at my side. Silence shrouded us, my mind humming with the reasons he could really be here.
“Look.” I finally reached the stoop of the guesthouse. He followed me, but paused just inside the threshold. “Just because you sent me three songs, doesn't make us best friends. It just doesn't. Life doesn't work that way. Hearts don’t work that way. Sometimes, I see something sweet in you, and it gets me. It gets me every time. But then you say something awful and I’m reminded how truly miserable you make me feel on a regular basis. I don’t need friends like that.”
It was Kyler’s turn to stand silently, eyes heavy with emotion as he took me in. I swallowed, feeling his gaze on me as if I was standing in range of a wildfire.
“Mad--” He stepped closer, eyes darting down to my lips, something behind his eyes looking like he was warring with himself. “I--” He thrust a hand through his hair. “I know I don’t deserve anyone’s friendship, really. I get that.” His gaze shot to his feet, his teeth nibbling on the ring in his lower lip and making me feel all sorts of ways I shouldn't for him.
I was supposed to be mad. Angry. Irate, even.
“But it took being without you the last few months to realize I’m better when you’re around.”
I arched an eyebrow, shock showing on my face. “Are you shitting me with this?”
He shook his head, eyes finally landing on mine. “Not for a minute. I like the person I am around you.”
I sucked in an annoyed breath, turning to break his gaze. I stomped off down the small hallway, unable to process my thoughts any longer in regards to Kyler Sinclair.
I turned into my room, flopping face first on my bed without a second thought.
“So this is where you’ve been spending all your time?”
I was surprised to hear his rich voice behind me.
“I thought etiquette implied when I stomped away, you should let yourself out quietly.” Sarcasm bled through the pillow covering my face.
“I don’t do etiquette.” His voice moved closer, sending twinges of awareness through my body. “Plus, you’re living under my roof, technically speaking.” I felt the bed move as it took his weight.
Kyler Sinclair wasn’t touching me, but I could feel him everywhere.
“Be my friend, mouse.” His words weren’t an ask, as much as an order. A smart retort was on my lips, but before I could send it flying, I felt the pad of one of his fingers dragging along the outside edge of my thigh, following the curve through the denim, so whisper soft I almost thought I was making up the phantom touch.
I gulped when his finger met with the skin under the edge of my sweater, pausing there to linger. His touch was cool against my heated flesh. I stifled a small groan, the urge to shift away overpowering.
“Please.” His one-word plea sank my sarcastic ship.
Just like that, I became Kyler Sinclair’s willing victim.
18
“Love, whether newly born or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world.” ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
Kyler
“All due respect, but I’ve seen you with your other friends.” She said, her head still buried in a pillow, a grin twitching at my face.
“I’m a good guy, most of the time.”
She flung her head around, cheeks rosy with the lack of oxygen and her anger. “Bullshit.”
I wanted to kiss her so badly at that moment, her hair in a wild mess and just waiting for my hands in it. She was so soft, pretty, and perfect.
“You look pretty when you’re mad, little mouse.” I leaned in close, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
Her eyebrows rose before she pulled away. “See! Right there, you just can’t help but be mean and hateful.”
“Mean and hateful?” I laughed again, pushing myself up beside her on the bed, her arms cupping her pillow, my back pressed at the headboard. “There’s not a mean or hateful bone in my body, mice are small and cute and harmless.”
She rolled her eyes. “And that’s a compliment?”
“Sure.” I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me what you think about it, I think it fits.”
She huffed, rolling on her side and scooting up the bed to match me with her back at the headboard. She cast a glance over my shoulder, eyes finding mine before she deadpanned, “I think you need some Friendship 101 classes.”
My grin widened, just the fact that she was talking to me again felt really damn good.
“I’m good at pushing the right people away when I need to, it’s a gift.”
“A curse maybe. You push everyone away, Kyler.” Her voice softened on my name and landed like cement in my stomach. There was something that captivated me, and I wasn’t even sure what it was. Only that it had everything to do with her and I couldn’t get enough.
“Well, it didn’t feel like that when we listened to music.”
“You do remember how that ended, right? With me bailing like the house was on fire? Not exactly friendly…”
An evil grin tugged at my lips, but I let it go.
“Real friends, I dunno, open up to each other.” She sighed, fidgeting with her hands in her lap.
I covered her palm with mine, stopping her nervous movements. “See? I told you, you had something to say to me.”
“Me? No.” She shook her head. “Stop twisting me up, you’re the one that followed me in here.”
I grinned and nodded, secretly loving the way she saw through my word games. I’d never met anyone that could match me with words, but she did.
“Well.” I shrugged, biting down on my silver hoop, the satisfying sound of the metal against my
