Homebound by Alyssa B. Cole

Author:Alyssa B. Cole [Cole, Alyssa B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2019-09-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

I don’t expect it to be pouring again. I also don’t expect Ethan Perry to follow me out.

“Hey!” he calls from his front door, but I can’t bother. I’m halfway down the driveway when I realize crap, I forgot my bike. As quickly as I can, I head back up and grab it. I need to get away. I’ve embarrassed myself so much, it’s painful. It hurts so much.

As I pull my bike away from the house, a hand grabs my wrist. It doesn’t hurt. It’s actually comforting, a warmth in the cold rain. My hair plasters itself against my face as I turn and face Ethan.

“What are you doing?”

“You said I should go,” I say over the rain. “I’m going.”

“Yeah, but not like this. What’s going on? Why are you upset?”

“I’m not upset,” I hiss, yanking my hand away, feeling the warmth of his skin wash away from me under the raindrops. “I’m fine.”

He frowns at me, but I can’t tell if it’s because of me or because he’s getting soaked. “No, you’re not. Is it because I brought up Greg? I’m sorry. I thought maybe there’d be a chance for the two of you.”

“That’s not…Forget it, Ethan, okay? Please? I’m fine. I get why you wouldn’t want to be with me or be my soulmate or anything like that. It makes sense.”

“What? Who said I don’t want to be your soulmate?” He looks so stupefied that I almost believe him.

“It’s obvious,” I laugh, trying to keep it from sounding too bitter. I don’t know if I succeed. “You just told me to call my ex to get back together.”

Water splashes as he slaps his forehead. “That’s not…Look. Let’s go inside and dry off, okay?”

“No, thanks. I’ll just go home and get out of your hair.”

“You left your backpack and Roku here anyway,” he points out.

Crap. I pause, considering.

“It’ll be ten times more awkward for both of us if you have to come get it another day,” Ethan adds.

Ugh. He’s right. “Okay,” I grumble. I try to ignore his relieved smile. It does something to my stomach. Instead, I gesture for him to go in first as I lean my bike against the siding once more. He gives me a look instead.

“I’m not going to run,” I snap. “Just go.”

He raises a brow skeptically but walks ahead of me toward the open door. I follow, relieved immediately when I step inside the house. The lack of AC in this place actually feels really nice after the chill of the rain.

“You should dry off. Do you have something to change into?”

“Yeah, I’ve got pajamas,” I say. When he does a double-take, I quickly clarify. “I just didn’t know if our marathon would go all night, that’s all!”

“Abby Doyle, were you trying to seduce me?”

Yeah, Ethan’s feeling better. I’m certainly not. In fact, the idea of him even laughing at the idea just makes things worse.

“Don’t be stupid,” I grumble, grabbing my clothes from my backpack. “Your bathroom’s over there, right?”

He’s stopped smiling.

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