Page 17 of Ly to Me

“Will you eat it now?”

I drummed my fingers on the table, staring down at the butterfly-shaped sandwich, then snapped. “What do you see when you look at me?”

“Huh?” His hands faltered right as his lunch was about to pass through his lips.

More laughter sounded from that damn table, and I fought every instinct in me that wanted to glare back at them. “Nevermind.” I let loose a sigh, and to my surprise, Carver tossed his friends the same look I’d held back on, then took a bite and chewed slowly.

I could feel Car’s eyes on me, moving between my splayed fingers and my face as I continued looking down at what he’d made. His shoulder nudged into me and I finally picked up the gifted meal.

“Fine,” I muttered. Carver chuckled and mirrored my movements, bringing the bread up to his lips at the same time as me.

My stomach gurgled, which he must’ve heard because he chuckled again, shaking his head with another bite. As he chewed, his face turned pensive, his beautiful eyes going distant before sliding to me as he swallowed. “Whatever I saw before isn’t what I see now.” The words he spoke were barely audible over the roaring sounds of students moving and talking. I swallowed the lump of food hovering in my throat, acting like I didn’t hear a word he’d said. But I had. And those words swirled in my brain as we continued to eat in silence.

7

Carver

The Note

“Next time you cook, I’d try cleaning up after. Or, I don’t know, eating it.” Jamie tossed my pan of eggs into the sink, then leaned against the counter, eyeing me down. “Somethin’s going on with you.”

“Yeah. You brought afriendinto my house.”

“Our house,” he corrected. “I pay half of everything.” As he turned to rummage through the fridge, he added, “My entertainment hasn’t bothered you a lick before.”

“Most leave the next day,” I said through gritted teeth.

He straightened, a sly smirk lifting his lips before I took a seat on the couch facing away from the kitchen and reached for the rolling tray. I wasn’t the least bit shocked to find the entire grinder emptied. “You want to fuck her, don’t you?”

Reaching for the box hidden beneath the couch, I cursed again and scrubbed a palm down my face when I felt how light it was.That little—

Jamie chuckled. “She seems to hate the hell out of you already, so good luck with that idea.” He popped the cap off a beer. Early—especially for him. “I bet she wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.”

He could take that bet and shove it right up his ass. I clutched the emptied box, picturing what it would look like if I smashed it into his head. “When is she coming back?”

As I turned my head over my shoulder, Jamie shrugged. “Later, I guess. I don’t know. Aubrey started texting me while I was working.”

“Hmmm.”

“I know Lyra said she has her morals, but maybe I could convince her to have a threesome since dating her is a waste of time.” He smacked his teeth. “Aubrey likes women, too. She’d love it.” His bottle angled toward me. “Don’t look so pissed, you can join, or swap after like we’ve done before.”

“Not. Interested.”

Jamie continued over my words. “You know, I might settle for Lyra, though. A petite body like that, and that ass? And to hear she’s inexperienced.” I stood and turned for the hall, the tin box denting in my hands.

“Poker tonight—don’t forget!” Jamie called out right before I slammed my bedroom door shut.

Tousling my damp hair, I secured a towel around my waist with my other hand and went into my bedroom. My steps faltered as I glanced through the window—still, no Crown Vic.

Interesting.

Maybe she’d skipped town, but I saw the look she gave me when my cock was inches from her lips—she had no plans of backing out. Not that easily. She’d be back.

In front of my desk, my entire body froze, my eyes narrowing on what lay on the surface. On top of the dark-stained wood was what remained of a blunt—one I hadn’t rolled. The note situated directly under it piqued my interest more—

Image of a note, which reads: Carver, Stay the fuck back and I won’t burn your facility to the ground. XO Lyra

The signature stuck true to her nature—a heart with a burn mark scorched through it. I smiled, tucking the paper into the drawer before bringing the blunt to my lips and sparking it with the lighter that had been left right beside the note. Thethreat. Little Ly was in my house, under my fucking roof, and had the nerve to not only steal from my personal supply but also threaten to rid me of my livelihood.