His eyes immediately snapped to mine as if he felt it, too. I was stunned and absolutely terrified. This could not be happening. It was just a little glitch. He was good-looking and that was it.
I took a step back, stiffening my back and clenching my jaw. I will not feel. Being numb was easier. He looked at me confused, pained, not knowing what I was doing or thinking. My heart beat faster and it made me feel sick. He needed to go or I did.
I had to get away from him. “I’m gonna go find my mum.” Darting around him, I took the stairs two at a time to get away from him. This is not happening. For the first time since Dad died I wanted to go home.
Chapter Ten
Tegan
The second I opened my eyes my head started pounding lightly, just enough to royally piss me off. The small bottle of vodka I’d brought with me was half empty and lying on the floor. The hangover wasn’t actually that bad, at least it gave me something to focus on.
Every second I spent in their house made me sink further into the water. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours yet.
“Tegan?” Ava called through the door. Sitting straight up, I snatched the bottle from the floor and shoved it under the pillow. “Are you okay?” She was opening the door and leaning against the frame.
No.
“Yeah. Tired. You?”
“I’m good. Listen, we’re all going to Emily’s art gallery. Jake’s staying with Carl so you can stay too but it might be nice if you came with us.”
If I weren’t so torn I would’ve laughed. Go to an art gallery with half of Carl’s family or stay here with him. “Not really. I just want to sleep.” At least if I stayed up here I could curl up under the cover and pretend I was anywhere else.
“I thought you might say that. Emily said to help yourself, but Jake’s here so ask him, okay?”
Yes, Mum! Jesus, I still knew not to just help myself in a virtual stranger’s house.
“Okay.”
She walked into the room and kissed the top of my head before leaving. I got a glimpse of our old relationship. It was nice but it could never be the way it was before so there was no point in getting cut up over the loss of my relationship with her, too.
As soon as I heard them all leave I got up, ready to take a shower before my day of hiding in bed commenced, but a knock on the door made me jump. Jake?
“Yeah?” I said slowly.
Lucas walked in and smiled. Shit, why did he stay back? His eyes immediately fell on mine and my heart skipped a beat. His gaze was so intense it made my mouth run dry. I wished that he had no effect on me at all. Clenching my jaw, I pushed away my stupid feelings.
“Art’s not really my thing either,” he explained. “Do you wanna do something?”
“Something?” I frowned. “Like what?”
“Whatever you want,” he replied. “You want to go out somewhere?”
Oh, God, did they put him up to this? Was Lucas my bloody babysitter for the day?
“There must be something you wanna do, Tegan?”
Hide away. That was the plan.
I stared at him in horror. “Not really,” I replied, wishing the ground would swallow me up.
“Come on. We can go anywhere. You must want to do something.”
Oh, for fuck sake! “The zoo,” I snapped.
His mouth broke into a breathtaking grin. “You want to go to the zoo?”
Right, dude doesn’t get sarcasm. I frowned defensively. “You asked. A lot.”
“Okay then. Be ready in half an hour.” He turned and walked out the door. Well, that backfired. I stared after him. Were we seriously going to the zoo? I didn’t want to go anywhere, especially not with him and his annoying making-me-feel-something ways.
It would be okay, though. What was the worst that could happen? He wasn’t a psycho killer and my attraction was purely physical. He had a nice face, that was it. I’d go and he’d end up annoying me even more so I wouldn’t want anything to do with him by the end of the day. It was perfect.
After a very quick shower, I got dressed and decided that make-up wasn’t needed for the zoo. And it would help put Lucas off. I needed him to not like me, which shouldn’t be too hard. Even I knew I’d changed beyond recognition and not for the better.
Lucas was waiting for me by the front door. He leant against the wall, looking up the stairs. I took him in as I walked down. His square-ish jaw and striking eyes made him look like a bloody male model. He was dressed casually, jeans and a grey t-shirt.
Why couldn’t he just be unattractive? I wished he had boils all over his face and rotting, brown teeth.
He watched me as I walked downstairs. My heart was racing. Finally, when I reached the bottom he said, “You ready then?”
“Are we really going to the zoo?” I asked. It couldn’t seriously be somewhere that he wanted to go? I didn’t want to go but I couldn’t back down now.
“That’s what you wanted. Your wish is my command.” He did a little bow as he opened the door. I couldn’t help smiling. “We’re leaving now, Dad, Jake.”
I lowered my eyes, grateful he didn’t make us go into the living room to say bye.