“I—” he cut himself off, studying me quietly. “I thought we were joking around. You called me a perv.”
“Well you are,” I sniffed.
He gave me a look. “Technically,you’rethe perv for flashing me.”
“Technically, it will be your fault when I punch you in the mouth, because you’restilltalking about it.” There was no forcing my voice to be level here. Now it was all venom, my defense rising high and ready to reign down when necessary.
Dejection slipped over me even as I held fast to my words. I had no idea why I was acting this way with him. I never had to be defensive with Con before. Sure, sometimes it reared its ugly head, but most of the time he pulled me right back out with his steady attitude and reassurances.
Now suddenly it was like he was the thing I needed to be reassured from. The force that was driving this ball of anxious, restless energy in the middle of my chest. All because he cried boobies.
This was so stupid.Iwas being stupid. And I felt even more stupid for making it a thing. But I couldn’t help it. It just felt big in the moment. Like, so big that I didn’t want to look at him. So big that I wish I could have gone my whole life without knowing that Connor had…seenme and didn’t have much of a reaction to it.
“Ceci,” he tried, sounding pained. Like he regretted himself completely.
I turn toward the window, needing to get myself in order.
I didn’t know what was wrong with me. But this was not the time to be getting insecure. And what was that, anyway? What had I really expected him to say? That he thought I was hot? That he wanted me?No. That’s exactly the sort of thing I didn’t want to hear from Connor, because that was exactly the sort of thing that could upend our friendship forever.
And I needed him.
We didn’t have to go into the how or the why, I just needed him. And I didn’t need to go scaring him off by starting to act all crazy. So, I stayed quiet for the rest of the drive, because I think I was a little hurt, but mainly I needed some time to get my shit together.
We parked outside of a large gym building. The front was outfitted from the ground to roof with glass, brick making up the other sides. Inside, I could see a front desk and the beginnings of gym equipment. Interesting.
Hopping out of the car, I had the urge to look back at Connor and ask if he also thought I was out of shape on top of being a disgusting monster, but I held my tongue. Instead, I charged right ahead toward the front door even though I had no idea what I was charging into.
I didn’t even get past the side of the car before large arms wrapped around me and a strong hold pulled me into a broad chest.
“Connor,” I grit out, pointedly ignoring the way my body wanted to melt into his body. Especially as he closed his arms more solidly around me and lowered his cheek to rest against the side of my head.
“Don’t be mad,” he said into our shared air.
“I’m not mad,” I lied, and he was right. I was terrible at it.
“I messed up,” he said. “I didn’t think I had to tell you, I thought you already knew.”
“Knew what?” I asked.
He shifted, and I could tell he was looking at me as he said, “That you’re perfect.”
I stiffened, my heart becoming an acrobat, flipping outrageously in my chest.
“I don’t want pity compliments, Connor,” I said tersely, trying to get away from him. He held onto me tighter, his forehead dropping to the crown of my head.
Voice low and deep andserious, he said, “Pity has nothing to do with it, Cee.”
“Con,” I breathed, feeling myself getting hot. Feeling as if I couldn’t take whatever he was about to say. But he didn’t let up. His front was molding like a sheet of wet paper to my back. I could feel every inch of his hard body against mine, just like I had in his bed. The familiarity of it didn’t make it any less mind melting.
His next words came out in a growl.
“I didn’t think thatIshould be the one to tell you—you confusing fucking girl—that you’re absolutely goddamn perfect, and the things thatthis body,”I had to bite back a gasp as his big hands grasped onto my hips and squeezed,“does to a man just by looking at you should be illegal.”
I was glad he wasn’t looking at me, because if I was melting before, I was evaporating now. I couldn’t speak. Utterly silenced by his sudden confession. I couldn’t so much as breathe.
Connor blew out a breath big enough for the both of us, his head shaking on mine. “I feel like I’m constantly fighting two wars when I’m with you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
