Page 94 of Hidden

“Don’t be ridiculous. Bianca doesn’t know how to be mean. You’re just being self-conscious.” Julian didn’t sound concerned. “I thought you’d be further than this.”

Damen’s mouth dipped. “I had to order furniture.”

“It really was fine before.” I frowned at the dust scattered throughout the space. “This isn’t going to be one of those renovations where I’m going to be stuck living in sawdust and paint pieces for the next few years?”

I blinked, and Damen’s scent surrounded me. He’d draped his arm wrapped around my back, and his spicy scent washed over me.

It would have been nice, if he also wasn’t entirely filthy. Standing this close to him, I could easily see the dark, coarse stubble coating his jaw. And there was a thin sheen of dark dust covering his skin as well.

Which really didn’t bode well for his painting project. Now dust was just going to get all over everything.

“What?” I asked, trying to pull away from his male-grossness.

His grin was too pleased. “Are you planning on staying long-term then?”

I smacked his arm away. “Maybe if you finish your little project. Get away from me. You’re dirty.”

“You don’t like dirt?” he asked, lowering his arm as he tilted his head.

“I like to be clean. Where am I going to sleep now?” I brushed at my skirts, no longer looking at him. It was a little thing and probably sounded girly and dumb, but how could I explain that squalor brought back bad memories. I tried not to be spoiled and to be grateful for what I had. But there was a line that had to be drawn somewhere.

I hadn’t slept on hardwood floors in bare rooms since childhood, and that wasn’t a time I recalled with fondness. In those days, there was nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape.

“You could sleep with me.” Damen sounded hopeful.

I would think not. He needed some initiative to finish this project. And Julian, he was still a medical student. He needed his rest. As for Titus? If he didn’t go back to work soon, Maria would murder him.

And that left only one.

“Where is Miles’s room again?” I asked. Didn’t Miles usually stay closer to campus anyway? It wasn’t like I had to sleep with him or anything. I was just borrowing his bed.

“My feelings are hurt.” Damen’s voice was barely discernable and a bit pouty.

“It’s all very logical,” I argued, glancing up. Julian stood to the side, a bemused expression on his face as he watched us. Meanwhile, Damen stood back, his hand pressed to his chest.

He quirked his eyebrow, frowning. “Are you going to explain your logic?”

“No.” I didn’t need to explain myself. Damen had already proven that his judgment was better left untrusted. Besides, it was obvious.

“So you’re sleeping in Miles’s room?” Julian stepped to my side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

My heartbeat suddenly echoed through my ears—that had been rather assuming of me. “Do you think he’ll mind?” What if he wanted his bed tonight?

“Of course not,” Julian said. “In fact, he’ll probably be insufferable about the fact that you chose him.”

“Come to think of it, I really should ask him first,” I muttered, touching my bottom lip. “But what if he says ‘no’?”

“He won’t.” Julian pulled my hand away from my mouth. “But there’s a way to approach him. Would you like to know what it is?”

“What do you mean?” Why did Julian suddenly seem amused? I thought Miles was the direct, confrontational, type.

“Julian…” Damen’s voice had taken on a warning tone.

“Relax.” Julian frowned at the man, then returned his attention to me. “Miles likes to pick oneveryone. He’s had it coming, you’d be the only one who could get one up on him.”

So… Was he helping me or not? I was so confused. And why, with every word out of his mouth, did it seem as though my initial conclusion about Miles not sleeping here tonight was incorrect? “What are you talking about? I don’t want to pick on Miles.”

“Don’t worry,” Julian replied. “Miles likes someone who can keep up with him.”