Page 6 of Healing Conviction

“Oh.” Matt’s laugh seemed forced.

Draco ignored them both as Nora’s calming lavender scent wafted up to his nostrils. Every time he got to touch her, he felt their connection deep in his bones. She needed to realize it and drop the act with the nice guy. Draco would help her get with the program if he wasn’t afraid he’d scare her off. But Nora was a free spirit through and through. He had to wait until she was ready to come to him.

Fuck, what I’d give to hold you like this every day—

A throat cleared and he glared up at Matt. The guy cringed and took a step back. “Uh, I, um. Sorry to interrupt.”

“Apology not accepted.”

Nora’s laugh bubbled against his chest as she squeezed him one last time. “Drake, you’re such a goofball.”

She rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Matt. Draco resisted the urge to correct her and tell her that he was not fucking joking. But from the wariness on Matt’s face, the guy already knew.

“Sorry about that, everyone. Didn’t mean to get emotional, dang. Em-barrassing.” Her singsongy self-deprecation made him want to turn her over his knee. “I-I’m glad you’re better, Drake.” She crossed her arms, seemingly gathering the pieces of her emotions together and balling them up to shove them down. “So, uh, where are you gonna live?”

She took a step away from Draco and stood exactly halfway between him and Matt.

“BlackStone.”

“Man of many words, this one.” Matt laughed and attempted to pull Nora in closer, but she stiffened. Even if Nora didn’t realize the connection she and Draco had, at least her little friend, Matt, seemed to be aware of it.

“You’re gonna be staying at BlackStone? But Drake, it’s under construction still! I know the residence wing was spared during the attack, but is the facility as a whole safe?”

“Yeah, Pix, it’s safe. Hawk will be moving back in soon, too.”

“Babe, he’s grown. He’ll be fine.”

She glowered at Matt and huffed. An odd, awkward tension filled the air before Nora relaxed her posture. “Alright. I get it. I’ll leave you alone. But I’m gonna be checking on you, mister.” She wagged her finger at him and the corner of his lip lifted.

Matt lounged his arm across Nora’s shoulders and an irrational stab of jealousy pierced through Draco’s chest. But no matter how much he wanted to, Draco couldn’t claim her.

Yet.

“Uh… babe, we’re kinda eatin’ into my lunch break. Maybe we should get goin’?”

“Um… yeah, sure.” She lifted her hand. “See ya later, gators.”

Draco seethed as Matt and Nora left the PT exercise room, heading down the hall toward the cafeteria.

“I’m not sure if you know this, Draco, but glaring at Matt won’t make him disappear. You’re gonna have to actually tell the girl how you feel. What’s stoppin’ you?”

“I could say the same to you.”

Melly’s shoulders dropped as she turned away from the door. “He obviously likes her a lot. Maybe even loves her. How can I compete with that?”

Draco scoffed at her observation. “‘Love’ is a strong word. He’sinfatuatedwith her.”

“It’s only a matter of time if they keep datin’.”

“Dating?They’re not dating, Melly. They’re friends. Atmost, it’s a fling.”

She slowly cleaned up the exercise equipment around them and mumbled. “Have you seen the way he looks at her?”

A growl vibrated in his chest. “Yeah, I have, Melly. What’s your point?”

“For starters, it’s got nothing on the wayyoulook at her, or the wayshelooks atyou.”

Yeah… I know.