Takedown Teague (Caged #1)(20)

“I’ve got cable,” I told her. “You could come watch a movie with me or something.”

She glanced away, and I knew I had said something wrong. Shit, it had probably sounded like I was coming on to her. I hadn’t meant it that way—not really.

Had I?

“My mom always taught me to share.” I started babbling to make up for what I was sure was a faux pas. “Since I share it with the neighbor, I could also share it with you, ya know? I mean, what else are big brothers for, right?”

I had no idea where that shit came from.

“Big brother?” Tria repeated. Her brow furrowed, and she brought her hand up to chew at the edge of her thumbnail.

“Yeah,” I said with a nod. I smiled, hoping it looked friendly and not incestuously creepy. “That’s kind of what I’m doing here, right? Helping you out and shit, like a brother would?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I guess that makes sense.”

She smiled then, and my heart sped up a bit when she turned it on me. I smiled back but was pretty sure my smile didn’t light up my face the way hers did. I was already regretting what I said, especially given her reaction to it. I looked away and down the street, somewhat surprised and not entirely happy to see our building looming closer and closer with each step. We were at the door less than a minute later, and right after that, we were standing at the door to her apartment.

Again.

“So what time do you work tomorrow?” I asked.

“Six to closing,” Tria said. “I should be done by one thirty, but that doesn’t seem to be happening lately.”

“I should be done with my workout in the afternoon,” I said. “I could walk you to work.”

“It’s still light out then, Liam,” Tria said with a shake of her head. “I can’t take up all your free time.”

“I told you, it’s this or cable. Besides, walking is a decent cooldown after a long workout. I could use it.”

“Are you just saying that?” she asked. She stared at me through narrowed eyes.

“Mebbe,” I responded. I grinned and glanced away. “Really, I have nothing to do tomorrow evening.”

“No hot date?”

When I glanced at her face, she was already looking away, her cheeks red. She took a slow breath and blew it out through her nose.

“Sorry, I’m being nosy.” She reached up and gathered her hair together in the back as if she was going to put it back into a ponytail again. Then she released her hair, and it collapsed in waves around her shoulders as she shook it out vigorously.

“No worries,” I said, swallowing. “No, no hot date.”

“Well, all right then,” she said quietly. “If you don’t come up with anything better to do, I’ll probably leave around five thirty or so.”

“I’ll see you then.”

“Okay.” She turned and went through the doorway, her hands gripping the frame a little too tightly. “Good night.”

“Night.”

With long strides, I took the stairs two at a time until I hit the landing for my floor. I knew I wasn’t about to go to sleep, so I didn’t even bother changing. I hauled my ass out onto the fire escape and tossed my legs over the side. I set a half-full pack down beside me and lit the first one.

“What’s up, crazy bitch?” I asked.

Krazy Katie didn’t respond. She didn’t even acknowledge me at all. She was leaning forward with her head against the grate, making little waffle marks all over her forehead. Her stare was intense, but I had no idea what she was looking at. I leaned back on one hand and smoked with the other one, enjoying the slightly warmer air and wondering how much longer I was going to be able to get away with no heat in the apartment.

“Things are warming up,” I heard myself say.

“Needs more,” Krazy Katie said.

“I’d be happy to turn the clock forward to spring,” I told her.

Krazy Katie’s head snapped in my direction, and she glared at me for a second. Her eyes were dark, wild, and totally unnerving, even to a guy who had about a hundred pounds on her.

“What?” I asked, my voice a little quieter. “You want me to turn time backwards instead?”

“All men are idiots,” Krazy Katie proclaimed. “She’s gotta find the one with the level of idiocy she can put up with.”

“Who?”

Krazy Katie shoved her hand inside the front of her shirt and began to rummage around inside her bra. She pulled out her lighter and quickly lit another cigarette but didn’t answer me.

“Who?” I said again, but I got nothing in return. I shook my head and decided maybe I was a bit tired after all. I tossed the butt over the edge and crawled back in my window, nearly killing myself on the overgrown pile of laundry just inside.

I should’ve cleaned up the apartment a bit, but I didn’t. I found myself looking at the dresser in my bedroom. More specifically, I stared at the bottom drawer. I knew what was in there though I never opened it. I wasn’t even sure why I kept that shit. I should have thrown it out long ago.

I had to pry my eyes away from the drawer and take a few long breaths. I tightened my hands into fists, which wasn’t very helpful. In my mind, I could imagine myself wrapping a bit of plastic tubing around my bicep and curling my fingers to make a vein show up a little better.