Page 43 of What He Always Knew

A frustrated huff left my lips as I debated my options.

Some would have taken it as a sign to go out after dinner, to be social, but even the thought of being around people made me want to shove my head in an oven.

I could run out to the store, I thought, but that would require putting on pants — and that sounded even worse than talking to people.

There wasoneeasy way to get a charger, though “easy” was a relative term. I knew Reese had the same laptop, and his room was just next door. He’d definitely be out for the night, the charger of no use to him. All I had to do was ask.

And my pride hated that.

“Ugh,” I groaned, but I rolled myself out of bed, anyway, not even bothering to put on shoes before I slung my door open. I propped it open with the lock at the top, blowing out a long breath as I knocked on Reese’s door next.

It didn’t occur to me that I maybe should have stopped to put on clothes — not until the exact moment Reese opened his door.

The cool air from inside his room rushed through my still-damp hair, and Reese just stood there, his eyes hard on mine before they slowly made their way down to my robe. He focused on the knot I’d tied at my waist, the one at the bottom of the V the robe left between my breasts, before his gaze drifted down again, to my bare legs. The ends of my robe didn’t quite connect at the bottom, and that left him a view of my thigh, still glistening as it dried from my shower.

I pulled those ends together, clearing my throat as my cheeks heated. “Can I borrow your laptop charger?”

Reese’s eyes were still stuck on the point where I held my robe together. His jaw clenched, and he tightened his hold on the door knob before finally finding my gaze.

“For tomorrow?”

“No, for tonight. I just wanted to go through my notes for the day, and my charger broke. Can I borrow yours?”

He didn’t answer, his eyes taking in my wet hair now — hair that was down and hanging over my shoulders.

“I’ll give it back,” I added. “The charge should be enough to get me through the day tomorrow and I’ll go to the store when we get home.”

Reese still stared at me, a small smirk climbing on his face as he pushed the door open wider and stepped aside for me to come in.

I opened my mouth to argue, to say I could just wait there while he got the charger, but the way he lifted one brow told me that wasn’t an option. So, I stepped inside, staying close to the door once it had closed behind us.

“You’re not going out for dinner?” he asked, crossing the room to where his backpack rested on the desk. He was already changed for the night, sporting casual, baby blue shorts and a white dress shirt that had the top three buttons undone. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and a beige blazer was thrown over the edge of his bed — an accessory I assumed would top off his look.

“I ordered room service.”

Reese glanced at me, that same smirk on his stupid face as he shook his head and dug through his bag. “You should come out.”

“I’m okay. Thanks.”

The entire room smelled like him. He was freshly showered, his long hair a little damp at the ends, too, and he wore the same cologne I remembered him wearing the night we went up the Incline. I remembered that scent enveloping me as I broke in his arms, as I showed him my scars, and that same scent dusted the sheets of the fort we built in his home.

“What about after?” he asked, crossing the room to where I stood. He held the charger in his hand, but he made no attempt to give it to me. “You coming down to the beach?”

“I told you,” I said, swallowing at his nearness. “The beach isn’t really my thing.”

Reese stepped into my space even more. “Okay.”

He offered me the charger, his eyes watching me over the bridge of his nose. I swallowed, reaching for the white cord, but before I could pull away, his hand tightened over mine.

“So, is this it?”

My eyes flicked to where his hand gripped mine before I found his gaze again.

“This is the end? You’re staying with Cameron, and I can just fuck off?”

“Reese…” I shook my head, eyes dropping to the floor between us.

“Just answer me.”