Page 247 of Blood & Betrayals

Connor is still for a long moment before his arms tighten around me. “Babe. You know you’re being a little insane, right?”

I frown, pulling back to assess his expression.

He brushes my hair back from my face. “You think my voice is sexy, right?”

I lean into his hand. “So fucking sexy.”

Connor cups my cheek. “Do I love that you spoke to another guy about his dick? No. Do I love that you told another man his voice is sexy? Not particularly. But I know it’s not like you suddenly became blind and deaf when we started dating.”

Shock strikes me mute for a moment, and I just stare at him.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“Y-you’re not going to break up with me?”

“What?” Connor sputters. “Over sending a stupid text and a phone call where you found another dude’s voice attractive? I also suspect tequila and your somewhat unhinged best friend heavily influenced the whole thing.”

I search his face, and when I can’t identify any signs of hurt or anger, I slam my lips to his. Connor groans, his fingers tunneling into my hair, but he soon pulls back.

“Babe. It’s all right.”

I shift to straddle him and kiss him again, my tongue sliding along the seam of his lips. Connor pulls back again. “Babe. I can taste the tequila.”

I pout, looking down at him.

“Why don’t I make you a sandwich?” Connor asks, and we both burst out laughing.

95

Summer

Iput a cup of coffee and a pastry on the bedside table for Connor. I runed both so they should stay warm and fresh until he wakes up. Last night, even after a large sandwich, Connor deemed me still too drunk for intimacy. So we cuddled in bed until we both fell asleep.

Quietly, I dress in yesterday’s clothes, careful not to wake him. His first class isn’t until later today, and he looks so peaceful.

By the time I get home, Alice has already left for class. I quickly change into my uniform and grab my phone before running out the door. I drop into my seat next to Alice, breathing hard after my sprint across campus.

Alice looks at me expectantly. “Well?”

“What?” I ask.

“How’d it go?”

I open my notebook. “Connor is perfect.” I exhale. “And I need to distance myself from the stranger.”

Alice watches me. “Because you find his voice sexy?”

The truth plays on my tongue. I try to lock it down, but it’s there and begging to be spoken. If I can say it to anyone, I can say it to Alice. I lower my voice and say, “Because I findhimsexy.”

“Oh.” Alice sits back a little. “You didn’t tell me that.”

I sink down in my chair, nausea churning in my stomach.

Alice nudges me. “Sum, it’s a crush. Everyone has them. You’ve not done anything wrong, and anything you did was because of my influence.”

Right. A crush. It’s just a crush, and those mean nothing. I love Connor. That means something. It meanseverything.

“I never want to hurt Connor.”