Page 103 of Surviving Slater

"It hurts when I'm not with you," he said.

I couldn't stop a tear from escaping. I knew that feeling.

"You deserve better," he said, taking my hand into his. "But I can't let you go."

Chapter Twenty-Five

He stayed for supper. My mom was taken with him. He said all the right things and I watched as he won my mom over in less than an hour.

"You want to come home with me?" he said after we finished eating and we were sitting in the living room.

I wanted to be with him. Time was running out and I would have to tell him about Shannon soon, but I just wanted a few more days with him. It was selfish and I hated myself for it but not enough to do the right thing.

"Yes," I answered.

Even though I knew it was better to come clean now, I couldn't bring myself to tell him.Just a couple more days,I told myself, and then I would tell him. There would be consequences and it would push him away. Anything we had gained in the past few weeks would not have been strong enough to weather it.

I got my bag and hugged my mom goodbye. Slater drove me home. I rested my hand on his leg, and every now and then his hand would briefly rest on mine. It was enough for my heart to inflate each time he repeated the small action.

My phone rang and I got it out of my bag. The caller ID told me it was Connor. Slater glanced at me as I answered.

"Hi," I said, trying not to let Slater see how nervous I felt.

"Jordan," Connor said, "have you told Slater yet?"

"No," I said.

"Is there a specific reason why you haven't?" he asked.

"I'm with Slater," I said, hoping he could understand why I couldn't answer him.

"Okay. Call me when you can talk." And he ended the call.

"Who was that?" Slater asked when I put my phone back in my bag.

I paused for a moment before I told him. "Connor."

"You guys seem quite close," he said.

I felt like there was a neon sign on my forehead that said 'she's hiding something'. I refused to meet his gaze, scared he would see I didn't want him to.

"Yeah," I said. "He likes to check up on me."

I pressed my lips together and averted my gaze to the window, hoping he would drop it.

"Did something ever happen between the two of you?" he asked out of the blue.

My eyes shot to his as my mouth dropped open.

"Really?" I managed to ask.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"You aren't his sister," he said. "Why does he feel the need to watch over you?"

I frowned. To a stranger it wouldn't make sense, but I understood it.

"He just does," I replied, still frowning as I watched him drive.