Page 31 of The Deception You Weave

"Did you even sleep last night?" he asks, lifting his hand so his palm cups my cheek. The warmth is welcome. It settles me in only the way my best friend's touch can.

I shrug. "A few hours."

His eyes search mine as if he's going to find all the answers he needs within them. He could always read me so well back in high school. But after everything, I learned how to shut everything down, close myself off so I could look like I was surviving while inside everything was crumbling faster than I could control.

"I wish you'd talk to me, Let. I'm right here."

"I know," I force out through the lump in my throat.

I want to tell him everything, I do. But he'll go straight to Kane and… I can't let that happen.

The weight of my secrets press down on me as his eyes plead with me to tell him everything.

He drops his forehead to mine and my eyes fill with tears.

"I just want to help."

I nod, unable to say anything with the emotion clogging my throat.

"Want me to come over after practice tonight, help you get some sleep?"

He knows as well as I do that I sleep better in his arms. It's just something neither of us needs to get used to.

But despite knowing that, a very different answer falls from my lips.

"Okay."

A smile twitches at his lips for a beat before it properly emerges and lights up his eyes.

"Everything will be okay, Let. I'm here, whatever you need. All you need to do is ask."

"Don't you have some other girl's bed to be in?" I ask after a few seconds.

I know Luca’s reputation, I have for years. Back then, it used to bother me. I wanted to be his one and only, now though, monopolizing his time, stopping him from getting what he needs, has guilt surging through my body.

"No," he states firmly.

I swallow down the lump that jumps back into my throat at the unspoken words I can once again read in his eyes.

"Come on, we're going to be late."

After a quick kiss to my forehead, he steps back, taking my hand once more and tugging me toward my statistics class.

West and Brax are lingering outside the room while other students file in.

Luca nods at them, telling me all I need to know about why they're waiting.

It's not unusual for them to be my bodyguards, but the fact they're scheduling it now instead of letting it happen concerns me.

"I'll meet you after, yeah? We can go for lunch."

"Uh… sure." With one final squeeze of my hand, he nods once more at my new protection and takes off down the hall to his own class.

"Come on, girl," Brax says as both he and West thread their arms through mine and escort me into the room.

I know instantly that he's not here. A long sigh passes my lips as my concern once again floods me.

"So…" West starts once we've found our seats. "You and QB1 were looking a little cozy when we walked in. Anything you need to tell us?"