It all started with a game

Chapter 20.1

I stood completely still aside from the slight shivers of my body that were uncontrollable. I'm stupid. I'm an idiot. Why did I think that coming here would be a good idea? She still hates me. She only texted me because Mateo asked her to and she's too polite to say no. I am a complete imb-

My thoughts were cut off as she threw her arms around me. My mouth fell open as she pressed her body to mine, pulling me in tightly. "You had Mateo worried sick," she mumbled against my chest.

My body refused to move, still in utter shock. Klaus stood in the background watching the two of us, bags caked under his eyes. He locked eyes with me, giving me a slight smile and a nod to acknowledge me before carrying a sleeping Sonny up the stairs, leaving me and Beatrice alone.

She was clinging onto me one second and then pushing me as hard as she could the next. "You jerk! Don't scare me like that," she scolded. "Mateo made it sound like you were dead."

Still cute, even when she's angry. My voice came out a soft whisper, "I'm sorry."

She shoved my shoulder again. "Jerk," she whimpered before grabbing my hand and tugging me inside. "Hurry up and get in the shower before you freeze to death."

Her own clothes had become damp as well, leaving the entire front of her clothes water stained. I let her drag me up the stairs, the grumpy look she was trying to keep on her face oddly adorable. If it had been real, I would have probably been terrified of it, but she was holding my hand a little bit too tight for it to be real. She kicked the bathroom door open, dropping my hand as she turned on the shower water as hot as it could possibly go. "Here. You can wear some of Klaus's clothes since yours are soaked." She disappeared, heading for Klaus's room.

I watched the water trickle down in a continuous motion, the sound as it hit the tile oddly soothing.

Kavinski lives with us.

I stepped in the shower, letting the water flow over me. I took deep breaths, letting my mind slow as I focused on the sound of water, which ran over my face causing my hair to matte to my forehead.

"I'm not looking, I promise." Beatrice entered the bathroom with her hand over her eyes, or at least she tried to enter before smacking into the doorway.

I wanted to laugh but nothing came out. I wanted to laugh, because that would have been something I would have found hilarious, but nothing came out. I felt nothing. "It's okay," my voice matched my emotions, completely monotonous. "You can look, I'm dressed."

She hesitantly removed her hands, like she didn't quite believe me. Her face dropped, her eyebrow raising as she stared at me. Her eyes grazed over my body, landing on my feet.

She frowned. "You're wearing socks in the shower."

I let out a hollow chuckle. I was fully dressed in pants, a shirt, a belt, even my watch was still on,  and what throws her off is the socks?

She stepped closer, kneeling in front of me, the water trickling over her ever so slight as she removed my socks gently. I let her, watching her every move. She stood, unbuckling my belt next, setting it on the floor with my socks. Her fingers were light and soft as she unbuttoned my shirt, rolling it off of my shoulders and adding it to the pile.

She left my pants alone, though I'm sure if she'd tried to take them off, I would have let her. A hundred girls have seen me naked; what's one more, right? Though, I kind of like that she hasn't; it's nice to know that someone wants me for more than sex.

"There," she whispered, stepping out of my personal bubble.

She set her gaze on the floor as she slipped her socks off, avoiding eye contact as she set her bare feet on the ground. I stared at her ankle, a tiny smiley face drawn on it. I'd seen the same one on Sonny's ankle prior, which made me assume Klaus probably had one as well. The thought of the gorilla with a smiley face on his ankle almost made me grin, almost.