Trying not to read into their strange conversation, I started toward the woodpile and found a humongous stack of wood at least three feet taller than me. How in the hell was I supposed to get any down?

"Need help?" Nico was suddenly towering over me. Nico was a good looking guy if you were Jessica, but he was a little too lanky for me.

I sucked in a breath. "Don't sneak up on me like that."

"Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Nico poked me in the side. "Not a good night to do something like that. My dumbass wasn't even thinking."

I smiled. "Help would be good."

Nico retrieved a ladder hidden next to the wood and sent me an adorable smile. "This helps."

With our arms full of wood, we headed toward the cabin.

Eli knelt next to Miss Gina, starting a small fire with sticks and kindling.

"Your grandpa is so proud of you, aren't you George?" Miss Gina said. "He says he loves you to pieces, Elijah."

"Not now, Gramma." Eli blew softly into the smoldering kindling.

Nico nudged me, showing me where to set the wood.

Miss Gina's shiny brown eyes met mine. "Ah, thank you, Lilly Flower. Now we'll be warm all night. My George says you're a cute little thing, and he likes your smile."

Confused about how to answer, I just grinned. "Oh, thank you."

Eli walked to my side. "Are you tired?"

"Would it be wrong if I said yes?" I asked.

"Not at all. It's been a long night. Come on." Eli winked and gestured for me to follow him.

Nico followed us, but Eli pushed Nico back, pointing at him. "Not you."

I glanced at Miss Gina who was watching our charade like we were her morning soaps. "Goodnight, dear."

"Goodnight." I didn't know if I would come out of my room after I went in. I needed some time to reassess my freak show of a night, so I probably wouldn't.

Following Eli down the hall, he stopped and flipped on a light. "Bathroom."

It wasn't bad. Small, quaint, and clean with all the plumbing I could ever want.

"Thank you." I stopped to admire a picture on the wall. It was an old sepia photo of a young couple.

"Gramma and Grampa," Eli said.

"They look happy." Their smiles told me they were much happier than any couple I'd ever had the pleasure of knowing.

"They were and still are." Eli smiled at me causing my stomach to release flutters. He was gorgeous when he smiled, and his dark eyes were so warm.

"Bed?" I shook my head. "I mean... room. Bedroom?"

Eli quirked his head as he ran his knuckles down my cheek. "Bed sounds nice too."

My face burned under his touch. How did he do that?

"Where's the stupid room?" I asked sarcastically.

"In here." Eli quietly chuckled as he entered a room at the end of the hall.

"Wait. There are only three rooms?" I was doing the math. "That's not enough. I can sleep on the couch. I don't want to take anyone's room, Eli."

Other than a bare mattress on the floor, sleeping on the couch was where I'd spent a lot of my life. I didn't know what sheets were until I went to my first sleepover and saw what other kid's homes looked like.

It wasn't long after that I realized my house was the odd one out. Everyone else's home was normal. I never let anyone come to my house when I discovered that upsetting truth.

"The couch? No. Over my dead body. You get the bed. Nico or I will sleep on the couch." Eli flipped the light switch and revealed a cute room with a full-sized bed. It was small but perfect.

"Who's room is this?" I moved to the dresser and picked up a framed photo of a young boy and Eli's grandpa. "Is that you?"

Eli tightly grinned at the picture as his cheeks reddened. "This is my room."

Setting the frame down on the dresser, I turned to leave. "I don't want to take your room, Eli."

Eli quickly blocked me and shut the door behind him. "It's your room now."

Under his intense stare, I looked anywhere but at him. "I can't. It's not right. This is yours. I can't take what's yours."

"You can and you will. I'm giving it to you, unless..."

He left the word hanging in the air like I was supposed to know what he was getting at. I was too curious to just let it go. "Unless what?"

Eli moved toward me slowly, like I was a wild animal preparing to bolt.

My eyes eventually found the courage to lift from the floor to meet his. He continued to walk forward. Instinctively, I backed up until my elbow hit the wall. "Unless what?"

His eyelids softened as he closed in on me. "Unless you want to share it with me."

I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't know how to answer. I didn't know where we stood. I also didn't want Eli to expect anything because I didn't do that.

Eli's gaze dropped to my lips and stayed there. He was only inches away. The corner of his lips tipped up.

I caught a whiff of his Polo Sport. Damn. He smelled good.

His head dropped as he hovered his mouth just above mine. "Do you know how long I've wanted to kiss you?"

I inhaled his words, tasting his minty breath. "How long?"

"I've ached to kiss you since the first time I saw you." Eli's lips brushed mine as he spoke. His hands found my waist and tingles rushed over me. I loved his hands on me, and I loved when he was like this.

"Sharing is okay with me," I finally gave in.

Eli smiled, and his lips skimmed over mine. "You know what you heard outside is all bullshit, right? I have no intention of doing anything with any other girl ever again. I've been yours since the moment I first saw you, Lil."

"What about when you were mad at me at your apartment?" I searched his soulful eyes.

"I'm sorry about that. I got weird over some stupid shit. Gramma owns a mystic shop where she does some damn good psychic readings, and people are judgmental as fuck. I've gotten into a lot of fights over it." Eli's nose rubbed over mine, sending tingles down my spine.

"I'm the least judgmental person you'll ever know. I've had a hard life. I was the one that was judged. My dad..." Holy crap! Why was I going there? I didn't just blurt crap out about my shithead father. What was wrong with me?

"What about him? From what you told me, your dad's an asshole." Eli's words stung. How did he know anything about my dad?

I shoved him back and moved toward the door.

"Lil? Wait. What... what did I say?"

"Don't you ever talk about my dad like you know me, or you know my life!" I screamed. "You don't know anything about me so don't pretend that you do! I need air." I flung the door open and was out of the room in a flash, stalking to the front door. When I ripped open the front door headlights were aimed directly at my face, making me squint and throw my hand up.

"They're here. Time to get lit!" Nico ran around me and down to the two vehicles approaching.

Some guy hopped out of the driver's side of one car. "Dude, Jeremy's stuck. We need a rope to pull him out. Dumbass doesn't know how to drive."

"Yeah, man. Park over there, and we'll find a rope." Nico pointed to where the Charger was parked.

The headlights finally turned away from my face.

Eli was suddenly at my back. He didn't touch me or go down to his friends. He just stood behind me, but his minty breath cascaded around me as he waited.

Why was I being such a bitch?

Yes. My dad was a bastard from hell. I'd obviously told Eli a little about my life.

Only minutes ago, with no drugs in my system, I'd almost blurted out crap about my dad without thinking. Eli wouldn't judge me. I wanted to let him in. I needed to apologize.

I faced him, grabbing the front of his jacket. "I'm sorry. I'm a bitch when it comes to my home life, and before you say it, I know I brought it up. I wasn't thinking."

When he didn't answer, I raised my eyes to meet his.

"I'm sorry too. I should've never said anything about your dad. I care about you, and I don't ever want anyone to hurt you like he did." Eli let out a heavy breath as he stepped toward me, causing my hands to tighten around his jacket.

My heart rate picked up. What exactly had I told Eli? Did it matter? Eli didn't seem completely repulsed by what he knew so he apparently didn't know the whole truth.

"Hey, stop." Eli's warm hands cupped my face. "We don't have to talk about it, okay? You can tell me or not tell me. It won't change how I feel about you."

I searched his eyes as my hands covered his. "Okay."

Eli's eyes fell to my lips as he pulled me in.

I was ready. I wanted him to kiss me. His lips curved up as his gaze swept over my face.

"Eli!" A girl yelled. "I'm here. Come get me!"

What the hell?

Eli's eyes closed as he pulled back. "Cassie."

"The girl you had a crush on freshmen year?"

"Yeah, but that died quick after I realized was sleeping with a different dude every night," Eli said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I held back a laugh. "Oh."

"Do you want to hang out with us? I mean, I know you said you were tired, but..."

I shook my head. "I'm not tired anymore. I want to stay with you."

A dazzling smiled lit up his face and eyes. "There's my girl."

"Your girl?" I laughed.

"Uh huh." Eli nodded as he laced his fingers through mine, sending tingles all the way down to my toes. "You're mine, and I won't ever let you leave me again."

We approached the vehicles.

"There you are." A curvy blond slurred as she walked up to us. She didn't even notice me before she slowly ran a finger down Eli's chest. "So, get this, a little birdy told me you have a crush on me, and I told that little birdy I felt the same way."

"Cassie." Eli unlaced our fingers and pulled me to his side, hooking his arm around my shoulders. "The little birdy was lying. This is my girlfriend, Lilly, and I've had a major crush on her for over a year now."

A huge smile crossed my face. I couldn't help it.

When Cassie finally realized there was another person in this conversation, she looked me up and down. "What the fuck? When did you get a girlfriend? No offense, Freshie, but Eli's a big boy, and he likes his girls primed and ready. He's gonna chew you up and spit you out."

Eli leaned in, his lips grazing over my ear when he said, "Like the cookies?"

I started laughing. It was an awful joke to laugh at right now, but today had been so stressful I needed an emotional release.

Eli smiled at me, holding me tighter.

"What's she on?" Cassie stared at me accusingly. "I bet it's that Hype shit. We have a whole car full of them coming, and they're all super giddy just like her."

My laugh shriveled up and died.

"What?" Eli's face went into scary monster mode.

"Um..." Cassie wavered uncomfortably under Eli's rage. "Jeremy's car is stuck, and they're all on Hype."

With his arm wrapped tightly around me, Eli led me to the barn where Nico and their other friends had gone to find the rope.

"Do you want me—"

"I want you with me at all times." His words were harsh, but I understood.

Eli stopped outside the barn and yelled inside. "Nico! Get your fucking ass out here now!"

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