Page 42 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

Nope. Not at all. Because he couldn’t mean what I was starting to think he meant. No way. My brain refused to even contemplate it.

My head was still tilted back, staring up at him, and he did not break eye contact, not once, green peepers boring into mine. It was kind of freaking me out.

“Nec,” Hunter called, breaking whatever the hell this was.

I took a step back. “I’ll just go and um . . . get dressed then.”

His eyes dipped to my chest then back up. “You do that.”

I spun around and speed-walked back to the bedroom, feeling his eyes on me the whole way.

After everyone left, I talked Lulu into going to lunch. I’d been cooped up in this apartment for days. I was close to climbing the walls or tearing my damn hair out. We went to one of our favorite cafes and I ordered coffee and a giant piece of carrot cake. Lulu got a coffee as well, but went for the chocolate cake instead.

“I can’t believe we were allowed out on our own,” I said around a mouthful of cake, rolling my eyes.

Lulu chuckled. “You’re disgusting.”

“Never said I was a lady.”

“No one would mistake either of us for that.” She took a sip of her coffee. “And we’re not alone. Zeke’s here.”

I looked around, but didn’t see him anywhere. Not a surprise. Even though we didn’t have a visual on him, you could bet he had us in his sights. “All this is a little extreme, don’t you think?”

Lulu put down her fork. “You were beaten so bad you were in hospital for three days, Ruby. And the guy who put you there hasn’t been found.” She shook her head. “You know it’s not.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Look, I know it can be stifling, but it’s for the best. Just until we know Scott’s off the street.”

Lulu had gone through a lot a short time ago. Only her situation had been way worse, and she’d had more than just one drug-addled idiot to worry about. Honestly, I didn’t think Scott would come after me again. “Whatever happened with him that night was a one-off, I’m sure of it. He’s never tried to hurt me before. Honestly, I’ve put it down to a psychotic episode brought on by all the drugs he’s been doing. He probably doesn’t even remember doing it, let alone expend the energy to come after me again.”

Lulu took another sip of her coffee. “You’re probably right. Still, no reason to take chances, not until we know exactly what’s going on.”

“I guess. I just want things to get back to normal. I want to start my job with Harry and put all this behind me.”

We both ate some more cake, then Lulu smirked at me. “So, does Neco hog the covers?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea what he thinks he’s doing, I just know it has to stop.”

“Stop?” She looked taken back. “I thought he’d finally pulled his head out of his ass and you two were together?”

The center of my chest started to ache. “We’re not together.” Or were we? I was so confused.

I don’t want anyone seeing you like this but me.

At first I thought he was trying to take us back to that place when we’d been best friends, always there for each other—but what friend said something like that?

She leaned in. “Has he kissed you?”

I shook my head. Those kisses before I was hurt didn’t count. He’d made it clear they didn’t. And he hadn’t tried to kiss me again. So, despite what he said this morning, I wasn’t going to fool myself it meant something . . . more. He was an intense guy, always had been. It was more than likely just him being overprotective again. “No.”

“Has he copped a feel?”

I nearly spat out my coffee. “No! He hasn’t done anything. It’s like he thinks I’m the same scared, defenseless kid who used to climb in his bed all those years ago. What he’s feeling right now is guilt, nothing more.” I wasn’t counting the boners digging into my ass every night. I was sticking with my theory of “he’s a guy and I had an ass that just so happened to be squished against his dick.” It had nothing to do with me, and that included the morning wood. That was just biology, not lust. The fact he didn’t seem to be the least bit embarrassed about it just confirmed it. Not to mention he’d never once tried to do anything about it . . . or should I say, with it.

Lulu looked disappointed. She wasn’t the only one. “Maybe he’s working up to it,” she said hopefully.

I shook my head. “What’s between me and Neco is complicated, yes. But I don’t think he sees me as anything more than a sister.” That had to be it. And more than likely the reason he hadn’t kissed me again. Maybe when he had, that’s exactly how it felt. Like kissing his sister.

“I don’t know if I believe that,” she muttered then finished off her drink.

I shrugged and quickly changed the subject. “So, is Josh with Sara today?”