Chapter 2: Closer
His fingers stayed on my arm. Warm. Steady.
I didn’t pull away.
“What do you mean you didn’t just come to check on the power?” My voice came out quieter than I meant.
Eric’s eyes stayed on mine. “I saw the lights go out. I thought about you sitting here alone. Then I thought about climbing through that window. And I did it.”
The kitchen light from the flashlight still threw soft shadows across his face. Sweat marked the front of his shirt.
I swallowed. “You’re my neighbor’s kid.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“I used to babysit you.”
“I know.” His thumb moved once against my skin. “Doesn’t change anything.”
The air between us felt charged. I could hear my own breathing.
He stepped in closer. Our chests almost touched. I tilted my head back to keep looking at him.
“Eric—”
