Page 51 of Almost Rotten

What he witnessed?

Ty couldn’t have seen anything at the orchard. Noah and I embraced in the barn for less than ten seconds, completely under the cover of darkness.

Bella was there, yes, but she’s no snitch. And wouldn’t she have seen Ty from her perch above? Surely she would have mentioned it.

My thoughts are jumbled, too fast and too slow, hazy from the weed.

We trudge up the last few stairs, my steps getting heavier the closer we get to my room. Outside of 1D, I stop and wait.

Ty pulls my key from his pocket and inserts it into the door.

On a whisper, I say, “If I asked you to leave right now, would you?”

The lock catches, and he pushes the door open with a menacing smile. “Why don’t you ask me and see for yourself?”

Tears spring to my eyes. Of course he wouldn’t. I know that. Just like he knows I won’t ask him to go.

It’s sick, this game we’re playing.

My chest constricts as I push past him into my dorm.

The room is dark and silent, so when light suddenly floods the space, I startle, bringing a hand to my chest.

Why the hell did he turn the light on?

Every other night this week, we’ve operated in the dark, getting by with only the glow from the small lamp near my desk.

Ty sets his backpack on the floor and pulls out a toothbrush, then a razor.

Anger sparks in my veins. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He looks up, brows raised. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

It looks like he’s unpacking. Like he came prepared. Like he expects to stay the night. Again.

“I don’t want you here all night.”

“That’s too bad, petit diable. As your husband—”

“You’renotmy husband.” I plant my hands on my hips. “And if I had to choose between every man and woman I’ve ever been with, you’d be dead last on the list of people I’d actually want to marry.”

He freezes, his entire body rigid and radiating a coiled tension that sizzles hotter with each passing second. On a ragged whisper, he asks, “What did you just say?”

I suppress an eyeroll. “That you’re the last person I’deverwant to marry.”

“Before that. About… about every man and every woman you’ve ever been with. Men? And Women?Plural?”

A laugh bubbles up my throat, but I choke it back. That’s what he’s taking issue with?

This man is seriously looking at me with absolute shock and betrayal on his face.

“Do you really think I’ve only ever slept with one person?”

His eyes darken. His scowl deepens.

Maybe it’s the cannabis. Maybe it’s my own frustration lingering after I pushed Noah away. Maybe it’s the utter exhaustion shrouding me after this godforsaken week. Regardless, something in me shifts.

I’m playing with fire, and apparently I want to fucking burn.