Page 71 of The Substitute

“It smells like my mom’s laundry detergent.”

“Then you’ll have to wear it a few times before you give it back.”

I smile and drop my head, pulling the neck over my mouth and nose, and the hood over my head.

“Seemed like that had been coming for a while. Do you feel better?”

I shrug, and even though I’m exhausted and embarrassed, I know that’s not enough of an answer.

He lifts an eyebrow at me and waits. Something about it makes me chuckle, and I’m not entirely sure why, but it feels good to laugh, so I go with it. Once the laughter starts, I can’t get it to stop. My stomach starts to hurt, and I cover my face with my sleeves and bend over my lap.

“There it is.” Savage doesn’t sound angry but amused. He pulls the hood off and manhandles me onto my back, whichhelps me settle down. He’s smiling down at me, and it’s unfair how pretty he is. Like, traditionally attractive.

I can’t help but trace his lips with my fingertip. “Can you stay?”

“I’m not going anywhere. Tomorrow is Sunday, so I’ve got nothing going on.” He nips at my finger. “Do you feel better?”

“Yeah, thank you.” I chew on the inside of my lip.

“You’re welcome.” He rolls to the side and gets us adjusted so we can sleep. “Now I’ll have to smell myself all night.” Savage nuzzles into the neck of the hoodie to prove his point. “Though right here is a delicious mix of both of us.”

It tickles, so I squirm, trying to get away from him, but the arm he has around me keeps me still. “Guess that means this will smell good longer. I’m not sorry.”

He kisses my neck and we settle into a comfortable silence. I’m exhausted and should fall asleep, but my head is too busy.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Apparently, he’s not sleepy either.

“I don’t know.”

“Want to tell me what set off your attack?”

I scoff. “Not even a little bit.”

“That’s why you need to tell me then.” He shakes me a little with his hand on my chest.

“I’d much rather keep my path”—I cut myself off when his hands tighten on me—“uh, insecurities? To myself, thanks.”

He growls, and his mouth brushes my ear. “It’s normal to have insecurities. Everyone has them about something.”

“I have more than my fair share.”

“You have some shit to work through, sure. But that doesn’t make you less worthy of affection or reassurance.”

“You’re basically a Hallmark card, you know that?” I smile into the dark. “A real book boyfriend if social media is to be believed.”

He tickles me and I scream, fighting for my life against the fingers digging into my ribs.

“You can just say that you like it,” he pants when he gets me pinned to the bed again. “You don’t have to get sassy about it.”

“I think I do, though.” I’m panting so much harder than he is, and I would be concerned about that, but he’s in amazing shape.

“Deflect all you want,” Savage adjusts to put both my hands in one of his. “But I’m still going to tell you that I want to be here.” He kisses my cheek. “That you’re hot as fuck.” Across my jaw. “And worth making an effort for. Anyone who doesn’t see that is missing out. But better for me, I guess.”

TWENTY-THREE

AMBROSE

I’m so ready to go back to semi-normal when our plane lands. It takes forever to get back to the dorm, but it’s still early. I’m hoping I can catch Tobi before he goes anywhere, and we can spend the day together. After all the sexting, I’m fucking desperate to touch him.