16 #3
“The truth is, right now, I don’t have what it takes to look any of those hypocrites in the face,” I admitted. Thinking about what had happened filled me with rage, but I tried not to think about it. There was no way I could see Aegan right now.
“Then let’s go back up into the treehouse,” he suggested.
I let Adrik go up first because I was a bit embarrassed.
All I was wearing were panties—which, to be honest, weren’t sexy; in fact, they were the kind you wear on your period—and my bra.
And they didn’t match. There was no need to wear matching underwear when no one was going to see me in it, and I obviously never thought I’d end up in this situation.
I was hoping that the darkness and Adrik’s drunken haze would keep him from noticing my underwear.
He disappeared into the darkness of the treehouse and then called me. I tried to follow the sound of his voice until I banged my head into a wall. I let out a loud groan and cursed, as I touched my head.
“Try not to crack your skull,” Adrik said.
Asshole.
Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed a pile of cushions tucked into one corner. There were also superhero posters on the walls, a drawer, a shelf cluttered with old toys, and various cables and objects scattered across the floor.
“We can stay here,” he said, pointing to the cushions.
We made a bed. There were enough cushions to form a large square, where we could lie side by side. He lay on his back and I lay on my stomach.
We spent a few minutes in silence, but I couldn’t fall asleep and keeping quiet wasn’t something I was great at, so I broke it.
“Was this treehouse yours?”
“Mine and Aleixandre’s,” he responded in a low, apathetic voice.
“I figure Aegan didn’t like it?”
“He was always into more serious stuff. While Aleixandre and I played, he wanted to hang out with Dad and learn about his job.”
“Were you and Aegan ever close?”
I heard him exhale before he spoke. “Jude, I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“Nothing new there,” I whispered, rolling my eyes. “I’ll shut up then.”
I wanted Adrik to keep talking, but I knew he’d already shared a lot tonight, and I didn’t want to force him.
I couldn’t help my mind from wandering though. How involved was Adrik in the nightclub? Did he approve of the illegal things that went on in Tagus? Did he go to the nightclub like everyone else?
I shifted restlessly on the cushions and tilted my head to catch a glimpse of Adrik. His eyes were closed, and he looked relaxed. His bare chest rose and fell with every peaceful breath. I must say, I could’ve watched him for hours. Maybe I could even—
Fuck, what the hell was I thinking? I blamed it on still being tipsy.
I stayed there, worried if I moved, I would do something I shouldn’t. At one point, I started feeling cold again and foolishly wondered why we hadn’t stayed down by the campfire.
To be honest, we’d been quite stupid . . .
“Stop looking at me,” Adrik said out of the blue.
“I’m not looking at you!” I shot back. “I’m staring into empty space, and you just so happen to be right there in the middle of it. Also, I’m . . . I’m cold.”
“Look in the drawer.” He pointed to the drawer in the corner without opening his eyes, like he knew exactly where everything was. “There must be a blanket or something.”
I grudgingly got up, opened the drawer, and started rummaging through. There were toys, car magazines, comics and . . . and something that looked like fabric. I grabbed it and opened it out. It was big, almost like a blanket. I smelled it. Good, it didn’t small strange.
“How long has this been here?” I asked suspiciously.
“No idea, just give it a shake out.”
I shook it until there was no more dust coming off. Then I lay down on the cushions again and covered myself up.
“I hope this isn’t full of fleas, Adrik, because if it is . . .” I warned.
“Shut up and go to sleep,” he shot back.
Well, at least it was warming me up. Nothing itched me, nothing attacked me . . . I shifted slightly and closed my eyes.
I don’t know what made me say it, but without thinking, I admitted, “I’m going to break up with him. I don’t want to put up with this any longer.”
A good while passed while I waited for an answer. But none came.
As I drifted closer to sleep, my mind kept spinning. I was thinking about Aegan, how to use all the information I’d gathered, what to do next, and what the consequences might be . . .
And then I felt something trembling next to me. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was Adrik, shivering. He was freezing cold and wasn’t saying anything. He couldn’t. He must’ve been in a deep sleep and freezing to death.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. Should I give up part of my blanket to my enemy?
Well, I wasn’t so sure if he still was an enemy; things seemed different.
After everything he’d said, the fire . .
. I didn’t know. Adrik was really different from his brothers: his appearance, his behavior, the things he said and did in literature class, and the way he steered clear of all things Aegan.
But I also couldn’t trust him. I couldn’t trust anyone.
It was hard to believe that one of the Perfect Liars wasn’t truly a liar after all . . .
Yet he had saved me from Aegan’s double blow of humiliation and helped me burn that fucking dress; we both wanted to get the hell out of the party, and he stayed with me out there in the dark; and he hadn’t acted like a complete tool despite being drunk . . .
And that’s why I did the right thing.
I shifted cautiously and draped the rest of the blanket over him.
He moved but didn’t open his eyes. He let out a groan and then stilled.
Without me meaning for it to happen, my skin had touched his.
It was a warm and gentle touch. It left me frozen, sending a strange shiver coursing through my body.
I was so startled I told myself to get to sleep right away.
And then he turned around. It was a swift motion—brought on by his dream or looking to get into a more comfortable position—and he lay on his side and threw his huge arm over me.
My eyes widened as, in a second, his face was mere centimeters from mine.
I froze even more. The sudden closeness was so intense and new that my mind nearly short-circuited.
“Adrik, what the hell . . . ?” I said.
He muttered something unintelligible, still asleep. The booze had knocked him out. He didn’t even move away. He didn’t even know it was me he was squashing. And I didn’t know what the hell to do. I tried taking his arm off me, but he only squashed me even more.
From afar, it might have looked like he was hugging me, but he was just out for the count. I caught a whiff of his aftershave mixed in with the booze. It was pleasant, maybe because I didn’t exactly have my wits about me.
I exhaled softly through my nose. I studied every inch of his face with nervous curiosity.
His slightly parted lips, clean-shaven jaw, masculine eyelashes, and strands of hair falling across his forehead .
. . I wanted to place my hand on his cheek, like that would prove that everything he’d shared with me under the influence of booze was true.
But I didn’t have it in me. Our bodies were really close together. If I moved my leg, even a little, it would rub against him. What I was most afraid of was making contact with . . . a certain part that was hidden beneath a small piece of white fabric.
Shit.
I closed my eyes. I told myself to remain still but was tormented all night with the dangerous thrill of having Adrik Cash lying beside me.
And wanting to kiss him.