Page 61 of Malaise
“I can’t help but worry.”
“I’ll swing by home and pick up a few things.” He moves my things aside so he can lie half on, half off the bed with his head on my stomach. “Might pawn off a couple of things to buy us a few nights.”
My heart sinks; I’ve already given him half of my savings to help with food and the last two nights. “I wish I could do more to help.” I crunch my body into a pretzel so I can lean down far enough to place a kiss on his lips.
He reaches over his head and presses his hands behind my shoulders, holding me in place. “You’re doing enough by focusing on your exams. Don’t be a moron like me and blow them off. Do the best you can, and worry about what comes after when the final papers have been handed in.”
I sit up, Carver shifting so his head is now in my lap. “At least preparing for them has kept me distracted before the funeral.”
“Will you still try to talk to your mum and dad, though?” He rolls away so he can sit and level our gazes.
I shrug in answer to his question. “What’s the use? I’m sure they won’t ban me from the building when I turn up.”
“No, but it might make things a little awkward if you don’t all work the tension out first.”
I reach across my textbook and pick up my phone. The screen is devoid of any notifications. “They would call if they cared about fixing things.” I toss the device down, frustrated that they don’t even want to fight to make things right. They seem so resigned to this being how it is.
Does it hurt them, not knowing where I am or what I’ve been doing? Because it certainly hurts me that they can just cut me loose like this.
“How long do we have until you need to be down at the school?” Carver asks, breaking me from my daze. The frown pinching between his eyebrows shows his concern.
“Um.” I tap the screen of my phone again. “A bit under an hour.”
That damn, lazy smirk returns, his eyes bright as he crowds my space until I relent and lie back. The highlighter digs into my spine, and I’m skewed thanks to the thick textbook wedged under my right side, but who cares when I’ve got this guy over me?
“What are you doing?” I can’t fight the urge to smile in return.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
His shoulders are firm beneath my touch, the muscles taut as he holds himself over me. “I need to cram before the exam.”
“I know.”
“And I can’t do it on my back with the book under me.” I chuckle.
He holds a single finger between us and diverts his gaze to the text sticking out from beneath my ribs. “What bit were you reading?”
“The definition of the terms.”
His eyes track the page, and he nods. “Okay. Make you a deal.”
“I’m listening.” My hands drift down his arms and back up, following every dip and curve of his sculpted frame.
“I ask you for a definition, you get it right, I reward you.”
“How?”
His eyes flicker with wicked intent. “For me to know and you to find out, babe.”
I smile wide, my chest full of adoration for this guy. He’s always known what to do to make me happy, to make me relax and forget the shit world outside our plain motel door. “Fire away, then. First question?”
“Alliteration,” he quizzes, a grin on his luscious lips as he waits on my answer.
“The same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent words.” Nailed it.
“Close enough.” He ducks his head to one shoulder. “I’m sure you’d pass.”
My breathing stills, my eyes transfixed on his mouth as he chews his bottom lip in contemplation.