Page 24 of Safe (King’s Heart #1)

Grant

“Stop being so fucking obvious.”

I whip my head in Javi’s direction as he pulls his sweatpants up. “What?” I bite out.

He doesn’t look at me, swiping on some deodorant as he casually answers. “You won’t stop staring at him.”

I grind my teeth together but say nothing, dropping my towel entirely too aggressively.

We just played a terrible fucking game. Another loss. Coach is absolutely livid—made sure to ream us out afterwards, emphasizing that he doesn’t understand why we’re playing like shit.

It’s not my fucking fault.

It’s Landon.

He goads me. He gets in my fucking head.

Like right fucking now.

He’s across the locker room, smiling like a mental patient while he texts on his phone.

Why is he fucking smiling so much?

Why does he have to be so happy?

Is it that fucking cheerleader?

What the fuck does she do for him? I’m the one that would have him coming and screaming my name in ? —

“You’re doing it again.”

I snap my eyes to Javi. “I’m not fucking staring.”

“Okay, Cap,” he sighs as he rolls his eyes.

I cross my arms and fully turn my body toward my friend who thinks he knows everything. “Maybe he’s texting Declan. Maybe Declan is putting that stupid smile on his face.”

It’s a low blow. But he’s pissing me off.

His eyes immediately narrow at me. “Declan wouldn’t.”

I give him a pitying look. “I think we both know that he definitely would.”

He slams his locker. “You’re an asshole.” Then he stomps away from me and out the door. I do feel the tiniest bit guilty. I don’t quite understand everything, but I know there’s something going on with them, either now or before, and I probably shouldn’t have gone there.

But fuck, he went there first.

“Hello, all. Just here to see my nephew, Grant.”

Nausea washes over me.

I turn slowly, meeting the eyes of Uncle Nate as everyone gives him an absent “hey.”

His wispy, graying hair is tamed and gelled down. He’s much more dressed down than I’ve ever seen him. A King’s Heart football shirt and dark jeans. He must’ve been watching the game. Watching me.

I flex my hand, peeking down at the barbed wire across my knuckles and resisting the urges.

He spots me and smiles, taking a few steps until he’s right in front of me.

It feels like everyone’s eyes are on me, but when I look around, they’re all looking elsewhere. Talking and laughing to each other. No one is even paying attention.

Maybe I just wish they were paying attention, so someone would intervene and save me.

“Grant.”

My name slithers out of his mouth and calls my attention back to him.

“Interesting game today.” There’s no inflection in his voice as he says it.

I nod and try to swallow, but it almost makes me gag. I just barely hold it back.

Those urges are fucking screaming. I can feel it all rising in me.

This is the closest he’s been to me in so long. When I throw those parties in his house—my old home—he’s always across a room. I’m shielded by an ocean of drunk bodies then.

But this… this is too much. It’s too close.

My head is going to fucking explode if I can’t?—

And then he’s gone—replaced by a tan, muscular back and a light brown head of hair.

Even though I’m slightly taller, it feels like he completely covers me. Hiding me.

“Do you remember me?” Landon’s voice comes out a little harder than usual.

Uncle Nate steps back, eyes raking over him. I hate that Landon is shirtless. I hate that he’s looking at him.

Stop fucking looking.

Uncle Nate narrows his eyes. “Ah!” He snaps his fingers and nods his head. “That one maid’s son. Leo.”

“Landon,” he corrects, his voice a little more light than before.

Uncle Nate nods again. “Yes, that’s right.”

The conversation lapses for a moment. I brush one of my fingers over Landon’s back dimples. The barest of touches. A thank you. The skin instantly pebbles in goosebumps.

Uncle Nate clears his throat. “Well, I just needed to speak with Grant for?—”

“Your house!” Landon exclaims.

“My house?” Uncle Nate questions.

“Yeah. H-how is it? I always wondered if it—like how it turned out. After you… I mean, once the renovations were done.” Landon steps forward and away from me, continuing to babble.

With him in between us, my body starts working again, and I hastily throw the rest of my clothes on.

My heart ricochets in my chest as I grab my bag and head for the back exit, running for my goddamn life once I get outside.