Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)

“Ryan.” I can’t reach his face, so I settle for his leg. My fingers curl around his calf. My other hand stays on the cement. “Don’t do this.”

“What?”

“Lock me out.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m not trying to.”

“But?”

“I don’t know how the fuck to handle this.”

The cool evening air nips at my nose, my chin, my shoulders. But he’s warm against my fingertips. My palm. “What about it?”

“You’re too good at pretending.”

“Isn’t that the point?”

“It’s fucking with my head.”

“Oh.” The words gnaw at my gut. I keep my hand on his thigh. I keep my eyes on his. “It doesn’t have to. I got carried away today.”

“You didn’t. You were going with it.”

“So you… you want to stop?”

“I don’t know.” He stares at my hand. “I don’t want shit to change.”

“It doesn’t have to.”

His fingers brush mine. “It does.”

I swallow hard. “What do you mean?”

“Mr. Powers is going to realize you’re amazing. He’s gonna scoop you up. And then you’ll be his.”

“We’ll still… We’ll still be the same.”

“Shit can’t stay the same.”

“It can.”

“No. I’m starting to get it, why Penny left.”

“Oh.”

“You seem sober.”

“I am. Mostly.”

He motions to the plate. “You should eat.”

“Later.” I tug at his leg. “Come in. Let the water wash everything away.”

“How’s that gonna help?”

“It just does. Trust me.”

He stares at me for a long moment. Then he pulls his t-shirt over his head and slides into the pool.