Unravel(43)

“Can I give you some advice?”

I lifted my eyes to his and said reluctantly, “I guess so.”

“Every guy your age is an *. Don’t trust them.”

“What about your age?”

He gave me a grin that made me suck in a sharp breath. “We’re still *s. Basically, you can trust none of us. And all that kissing stuff?” He shook his head. “Don’t do that either.”

My eyes narrowed. “So what can I do?”

“Write letters or shake hands.”

“Shake hands?” I said skeptically.

“Yeah. That’s all you need.”

I frowned and didn’t say a word. I didn’t know what I wanted but I knew one thing. I didn’t want to shake his hand. I looked at Lachlan and caught him staring at me. His brows were knitted together, and I was too afraid to ask him what he was thinking about, too afraid that he would give me more ‘boy advice’.

I quickly spoke up. “What time is it?”

He looked at me a second longer and grabbed his phone. “It’s 2:15.”

“In the morning?”

“No. In the afternoon. The sun just didn’t feel like rising today.”

I lightly kicked his foot. I stood up and brushed the dirt off the back of my shorts. “I need to get home.”

I didn’t want to leave. It felt as if Lachlan had just climbed up that ladder seconds ago and now our time was up.

“How long are you home?” I asked.

“For a week and then I gotta head back to school.”

I stared at the floorboards. A week wasn’t even close to the amount of time I wanted with him. But I would take what I could get.

Lachlan stood up. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Lachlan stood and walked over to me. He patted me on the head. My jaw was clenched tight over the brotherly action.

“All that stuff I said about boys… you know I’m just looking out for you, right?”

“I know. Thanks,” I mumbled before I ducked out from under his hand.

I didn’t want him warning me. I wasn’t his little sister. If I could see that, why couldn’t he?

“I’m here for a week,” he called out. I stopped walking. “I brought home some fireworks for you. I know I missed your birthday, but I thought we could still light them up.”

It was a peace offering.

Before I climbed down the ladder, I smiled at him. “That sounds good.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lachlan said.

Before I jumped onto my saddle, I glanced back at him. He was looking at me with concern written all over his face. For a moment I just basked in that concern. Even though he had been gone for so long, nothing had really changed. He was still there for me and I hoped to God that he would always be there for me. That time, age and experience would never change that.

“I’m fine,” I said, and rode back to my house.

And I was… for now.





I wake up with a gasp.

My hands are gripping the sheets tightly. Sweat trickles down my spine and my heart is racing.

It takes me a minute to realize where I am and when I do, I drop my face into my hands. I want to go back to that memory and live there, when everything was so simple.

After I take a deep cleansing breath, I lift my head and look around. I expect to find him bent down in the corner, staring me down, snickering, screaming expletives in my face. But there’s no one looking back at me with hate.

It’s just me here. All alone.

I wrap my arms around my waist, turn my head and watch the sun slowly rise.

I think of Lachlan the whole time.



18—THE BRINK

“How are you, Naomi?”

I glance at Dr. Rutledge as I take a seat. “I’m good.”

“Did you sleep well?”

“All right, I guess.”

“Excellent.” She takes a sip of her coffee before she grabs her pen. “How about we get started then. Can you tell me—?”

“Miss me?” Max whispers.

Suddenly, he’s right next to me. My heart does somersaults in my chest.

His presence is powerful enough to suspend reality. My head stays forward, but my eyes turn at the sound of his voice. I soak in his features. The slant of his dark brows. His bright hazel eyes. The curve of his lips. My fingers grip the armrests so I don’t reach out and touch him. I miss him so much.

His hands curve around the arm rests, inches away from my elbows. A few seconds later, I feel the hard wall of his chest press against my shoulder. It’s tantalizing. His hair brushes against my jaw as he leans close and the scent of his aftershave reaches my nose. His lips brush against my ear and I jump.

“Keep talking to her. It’s your only chance of getting out of here.”

I swallow and look at Dr. Rutledge. Her lips are moving, but I can’t hear her. I can only hear Max.

I know what he’s saying is the truth. Dr. Rutledge is my only ticket to getting out of here. And when I get out of here, I can help Max and Lana and everything will be better. Not perfect, just better.

“I miss you,” Max whispers into my ear. His voice is like sharp talons around my heart. Each word that comes out of his mouth pierces me, making my breath hitch. My face remains forward but I can just see his lips curving up into that sexy smile of his. “I need you to come back.”