Page 40 of Protective Love

Grabbing my Kindle from my locker, I walk out of the staff room and towards Jaylen's room, secretly hoping that he's in a better mood now so that we can go back to our little routine of reading and talking until the end of my shift.

I'm sorely disappointed when I walk into his room to see him sat up in bed, leaning against the pillows stacked behind him and glaring at the windows that run along the wall.

I stand by the entrance of the room, watching him for a moment and then I heave a sigh and walk over to the chair at his bedside, purposely crossing his line of sight.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask, sitting in the chair and placing my Kindle on my lap, waiting for him to respond.

He pulls his eyes away from the windows and looks at me, showing me his tortured expression.

The sadness in his eyes tugs at my heart and my lips pull down into a frown.

Instead of answering my question, his eyes flick down to my kindle.

"You reading something new?" he asks, his tone gruff.

"I'll take that as a no then," I mutter, before nodding my head in answer to his question. "Yeah, it's calledBound By Secrets.You heard of it?"

He shakes his head. "What's it about?"

"Well, I don't really know yet. I only started it this morning, but my friend recommended it and said that she thinks I'd enjoy it."

His brows raise in surprise.

"Your friend live here in London?"

"No, she's back in Ireland."

"So, that's where you're from?" he asks, making me realise that no one knows that piece of information I just let slip.

I clear my throat and my eyes dart away from his, focusing on the Kindle as I pick it up.

"Not exactly, no."

"What does that mean?"

"You seem awfully talkative now. Does that mean you want to tell me what's got you in such a sour mood?" I ask, hoping to throw him off of this topic of conversation.

Unfortunately, it backfires and when he smirks at me, I realise I've made a grave mistake.

"Let's make a deal," he says. "I'll answer any questions you have, if you answer any that I have."

I bite down on the inside of my cheek, nervously glancing around the room.

"Come on, Rory. If I ask something that you really don't want to answer, I promise to switch the question."

I look up at him and hesitantly nod my head, only because I'm intrigued as to why this upbeat, joyful man has all of a sudden turned into a grumpy bastard.

"So, where are you from?" he asks.

"Well, I moved here from Ireland, but I'm not originally from there."

"That's not exactly an answer is it, darling?"

I roll my eyes and shake my head, making him chuckle.

"I was born in Manchester, but I was shipped off to Ireland when I was twelve to live with my aunt because my parents died."

"Oh, damn. Well, I wasn't expecting that answer… I'm sorry," he says, cringing.