Page 75 of Things I Read About

But I’m not by myself, I’m with this gorgeous, angry mystery of a man who won’t answer my question. When we make it to the garage, both of us relaxing slightly, I ask again.

“What about me, Nate?”

He gets out and storms into the house, ignoring the dogs that greet us, which sends them all to me, or more specifically, to my crotch. I pat their heads awkwardly and take big steps to get past them.

“Nate! Nate, what about me?” I call to him as he goes through the door. When I make my way in, I can still see him in the kitchen, trying to disappear again. But it’s so dark in here.

“Home, turn on lights.”

“Hell-lo Sad-ie. What lights would you like for me to turn on?”

“The island,” I yell.

“Okay, playingIsland in the Sunfrom your playlist Summer Bangers.”

“No! Cancel!”

The house is now blaring a Weezer song at us.

Shep loves Weezer.

I hate Shep, at the moment.

“Nate, where is the iPad?” I ask right as he yells, “Cancel.”

The house doesn’t hear him and he doesn’t hear me.

“What?” Nate yells.

“The iPad?”

“What’s your bad?”

I get up close so he can hear, pushing up on my toes to reach his ear.

His hands land on my waist and I freeze.

Our eyes lock, and I search his for something, any sign that he still feels what I do. Still wants what I want.

He moves one hand, flat and sliding from my side to my back. Every nerve ending in my hips, butt, and lower—deeper—all pop off like little fireworks. He’s going to grab me, hold me again.

But, no.

He just reaches for my phone, which I still keep in my back pocket.Crap.

He pulls it out easily as his eyes go from blank to furious. Then he opens the stupid home app and kills the stupid music. He also turns on one kitchen light, over the stove, washing us in a pale-yellow glow.

The sudden silence seems louder than the music.

His left hand leaves me and goes to the kitchen bar. He closes his eyes and grips my phone in his right like he’s trying to break it in his massive fist.

“You already know, Sally. You know.” His voice is gritty but gets louder, faster. “It’s like you think,gee, how could I make it easier for a psychopath to hurt me today? How can I set my kidnapper up for success, hm?And then, you do all those things.”

I shrug. “Well, then, it’s a good thing I have you.”

“But I won’t—” He stops himself, like he’s just realized he’s yelling. He takes his hand off the counter and straightens, looking up at the ceiling. “I won’t be here. You won’t always have a bodyguard. You need to try to start remembering the things I’ve taught you.”

I roll my eyes. “I won’t always be in danger. No one is out to get me.”