6. Chapter 6
6
A fter washing every inch of me multiple times, I stand under the stream for a solid ten minutes. Finally cutting the water off, I grab a towel and wrap it around me, only to realize I don’t have any clothes to change into.
“Hey B,” I yell, knowing her living room is shouting distance from where I am. But there’s no answer. I look around for my phone so I can send her a text, but don’t see it anywhere. Dammit. I crack the door slightly and holler again. “Blake, I don’t have any clothes. Will you bring me some?” I close the door again and wait. She had to hear me that time.
A few minutes later, there’s a knock at the door. I pull it open just enough to grab the clothes, but as soon as it’s open, I stop. Because it’s not Blake on the other side, and it isn’t her clothes being held out. Instead, standing a mere six inches away, is a man with whiskey brown eyes looking down at me.
Colt.
He's towering in the doorway. Easily 6’2 and taking up every inch of the frame.
My eyes roam down his body involuntarily. His sun-kissed skin looks even darker in the hallway than it did on Facetime, and all I want to do is reach out and lick it. The tattoo on his arm, that I can now tell is some type of intricate tribal masterpiece, disappears under the sleeve of his shirt, which hugs his broad shoulders, like the one he wore last night. I can see all the dips and curves of his upper body. He has a scruffy beard has been freshly trimmed, and his hair is the same deep shade as his eyes, with a messiness that doesn’t look out of place.
“I heard you needed clothes.” His deep, raspy voice pulls my attention back to his eyes. They’re looking directly into my soul, but there is something reserved in them, too. They aren't complex, but hypnotize me nonetheless. A sereneness that washes over me I can't place.
“I, uh… where’s Blake?” My voice is a whisper. I worry if I'm much louder, I'll come out of the dream I must be in. Because nothing else exists in this moment.
“Her and Tyson went to get food. I told them I’d stay here in case you needed anything.” His face is soft, with no trace of annoyance. Surely he has better things to do on a Sunday night than be at a strange girl's house because her friend had a panic attack. I couldn't imagine him being okay with this scenario.
“Why would you do that?” Hesitation coats my words. I don't trust easily, especially when things don't make sense.
He shrugs. “She looked like she could use some fresh air.” Then his eyes bore into mine, taking every ounce of my attention. “And I didn’t want you to be alone.”
“Oh…” is all I can muster. I’m just not used to having such undivided attention. The eye contact he's holding is unlike anything I've experienced, and I can't break away from it. He's holding me captive without laying a hand on me.
“I grabbed a shirt and some sweats from my bag. They’ll probably be big on you, but it’ll give you something until Blake gets back.” He extends his arm to offer me the neatly folded pile. But I don't even notice the clothes. Because the flex in his forearm caused the coils in his arm to bulge and the sight goes straight to my core. Snap out of it, Libby .
“You don’t mind?” I already feel bad that he drove here for a girl he doesn’t even know. And now he’s giving me his own clothes to wear. From a bag that he apparently packed. Or maybe he just keeps extra clothes in his truck?
“Do I mind if you wear my clothes?” He moves his head in a way to get my attention back to him. His eyes hold mine as his lips curl slightly on one side. “No, Libby, I don’t mind at all.” A rush of something runs down my body from the sound of my name coming from his mouth, but it isn’t panic this time. It’s electric.
“Okay… thank you.” I keep my eyes on him as I open the door further so I can take the clothes. Colt's jaw clenches and his eyes roll down my body when I do, and he puts his hands in his pockets. Remembering I only have a towel wrapped around me, my face burns red, but I can't move. Stuck in place by the whiskey eyes that are now set on fire. I don't know how much time passes with him drinking me in without a word, but eventually he brings his gaze to mine. With a small shake of his head, he leans forward and grabs the doorhandle, pulling it shut and leaving me alone. Standing in the middle of the bathroom floor like an idiot.
I turn to see what it is he saw, but a flash of static passes through me as I remember the last time I looked at myself in the mirror. Shaking the thought, I drop my towel and pull the gray sweats on, rolling the top over a few times to fit my waist. Then I slide the t-shirt over my head, only to be hit with a scent so heavenly. It’s manly, clean, and intoxicating. There isn’t one smell, but a full aroma. Mint, vanilla, and… tobacco? I don’t know if I’ve ever smelled anything better, but I keep the shirt held to my face for longer than necessary to soak it up.
Once I’m fully dressed, I decide against brushing my hair so that I don’t have to look in the mirror again.
I walk into the kitchen, hoping Blake is back home, but it’s empty. I peer around the corner from where the island is and see a pair of boots sitting next to the front door. Tyson doesn’t wear boots, so I know he’s not here either. Sigh . I don’t have the energy to sit with a stranger until they get back. Especially one as mouth watering as Colt. Maybe I’ll go back to the bedroom and lay down.
“You okay?” The voice behind me is so close it makes me jump, my heart immediately going into overdrive. I spin around just as his hand reaches out to grab my elbow, balancing me. A rush jolts through me where our skin touches and my eyes go straight to it. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to scare you.” If he feels the rush too, he doesn’t show it.
“You didn’t scare me.” I back up to create some distance and he drops his grip on my elbow. My body instantly misses the heat, but the ache is equal parts in my core and in my chest.
“Good,” he says, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m okay. I’m just going to wait for Blake and Ty to get back.” I move towards the bedroom. It's dangerous being too close to him. I'm in a delicate state. And I don't trust myself to think rationally.
“You don’t have to wait in there if you don’t want to. I won’t bite.” I turn slightly to find his eyes still on me, causing me to drop mine to the floor. The thought of him biting me makes me want to turn and pounce, but that is not a good idea. Being freshly broken up after five years, I suppose I could have a rebound, but not tonight. Though I wouldn't mind Colt being the guy to ruin me. “Unless you’d rather get some rest. I just don’t want to be the reason you shut yourself away.” Shit. He's being sweet and here I am thinking of all the dirty things I'd like to do.
“I don’t have the energy to entertain anyone,” I say, while keeping my eyes lowered. The sooner I get away from him, the sooner I can get my head on straight.
“Libby, you don’t have to entertain me.” The sound of my name on his lips forces me to look up at him. He’s still standing in the same place, keeping a respectful distance. He does that head move again, convincing me to make eye contact. His eyes are impossibly soft and firm at the same time. “I’m here for you, not to add to your plate.”
“You don’t even know me.” Why'd he have to go and say things he doesn't mean? He's ruining this little fantasy for me.
“I’d like to.” He shrugs like it’s that easy, making my heart flutter. Who is this man? He knows nothing about me yet drives my friend all the way to Thibodaux just to bring him to me. Then he offers me his clothes and tells me the only reason he's here is to help. There has to be something more to this that I’m not realizing.
“What’s the catch?” I ask, a little more strength in my voice than before.
“Catch?”
“Yeah. What do you want from me? Just because you show up and offer to stay with me alone doesn’t mean something is going to happen here.” I wave between us.
His eyebrows scrunch. “God, Libby, is that what you think? That I’m just here to sleep with you?” The thought of him not even being into the idea hurts a little, but I don't know why.
“What else am I supposed to think? I don’t know you. And the only interaction I’ve had with you, you were hitting on me.”
His eyes close, and he exhales slowly. “You’re right.” Opening them again, they’ve turned puppy dog. “I’m sorry. I promise that is not why I’m here.” When I don’t say anything, he motions towards the living room. “Want to go sit? I can make you some tea or something.”
“You know how to make tea?” What man knows how to make tea?
“I do not.” His lips press into a line, hiding his smile. But damn it if I wish he wouldn't. I have yet to see a full one, but the small ones almost unravel me.
I can’t help but hide my own too, amazed at how quickly the mood shifted. “That’s okay. I need to go brush my hair out before it dries.”
He hesitates, but only for a second. “Do you need any help?”
“Brushing my hair?” I clarify.
“Yes.”
“No. I, uh… I can handle it.” I’ll just do it without looking in the mirror. If it turns out hideous, then so be it. But being alone with this man while he touches me is not a position I need to put myself in.
“Are you–”
The front door swings open and Blake and Tyson walk in with multiple bags of takeout. “Sorry it took so long, man. The line was crazy at the shop.” Tyson calls to his roommate while he kicks off his shoes. Turning around, he finds me. “Hey Little Bird! I’m glad to see you up and walking.” He strides over to me and wraps me in a hug. I can’t help but lean into it, trying to soak up all the warmth his body has to offer. While I feel better than I did thirty minutes ago, I'm still exhausted and weak. When I pull away, I catch a glimpse of his Colt’s jaw ticking while his eyes remain glued to the floor.
Blake pulls me into a hug next. “We got subs. I hope that’s okay. I didn’t know what would be good on your stomach, or if you felt like eating.” I feel so bad that she's going through all this trouble. Blake is normally so certain of everything, and here she is doubting herself when it comes to how to be my friend just because I had to go and have a panic attack.
“Subs are good. I’m just going to brush my hair first.” I hook my thumb over my shoulder toward the bedroom.
“Okay! I’ll come with you and help. We’ll put these boys to work getting the food set out.” She flashes her brother a smile, who nods in response. Then she grabs my hand and pulls me towards the room, but not before I see a pair of brown eyes following me down the hall.