Page 83 of Cross Checked

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My pulse kicked.

ME: my room

CADE: door locked?

I glanced toward my bedroom door, then slid out of bed on unsteady legs to turn the lock. The tiny click sounded obscenely loud in the quiet room.

ME: yes

CADE: alone?

ME: yes

CADE: wearing my hoodie?

I looked down at myself, heat blooming across my chest.

ME: maybe

CADE: that means yes

ME: unfortunately

CADE: nothing unfortunate about you in my clothes

I let out a shaky breath, leaning back against my bedroom door with the phone clutched in both hands.

ME: you’re doing it again

CADE: Fuck yes I am

My thighs pressed together beneath the hem of his hoodie.

I hated that he knew. Hated that I wanted him to know. Hated that fighting this was becoming less about self-preservation and more about clinging to a rule that had already started cracking.

CADE: what are you doing right now?

ME: texting you

CADE: besides that

I stared at the screen.

ME: lying in bed

CADE: thinking about tonight?

ME: yes

CADE: which part?

My mouth went dry.

ME: Cade

CADE: tell me

ME: the gym

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