I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,41

brain. I didn’t want Chris to call me later.

I didn’t want Chris at all.

I wanted Tristan.

And if I was being honest with myself, I think I’d wanted Tristan all along.

But was it just one-sided? Because the jealousy I saw in his eyes couldn’t be my imagination. He had to feel something for me.

Maybe he just needed a little push to admit it to himself.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Kresley

There was loud banging at my door later that afternoon, and then I heard, “It’s Marco.”

I jumped off my bed and opened the door.

Marco’s hands gripped my doorjamb and his chest rose and fell like he’d just run a race. “My wife was rushed to the hospital.”

“That’s great! Go!” I urged.

He shook his head. “Something’s wrong with the baby.”

My hands flew to my mouth. “Oh my God.”

Tristan’s door opened. “What’s wrong?”

“She’s having pain and that’s all I know,” Marco explained. “I called Briggs. He’s on his way. But…”

“Go Marco,” I said. “Go take care of your wife.”

He nodded, his eyes wild with fear as they looked from me to Tristan.

“I got this,” Tristan assured him.

“Thanks, man,” Marco said. He tore his eyes away from Tristan and rushed down the hallway to the stairwell, disappearing without a second look.

Tristan and I stood in the hall, both shaken by a frazzled Marco. It was strange to see such a big bad man terrified. Neither of us were prepared for that.

“I’ll stay in tonight,” I assured Tristan.

His eyes searched mine, questioning my statement.

“So, you don’t have to worry about getting extra security.”

“You’re to have at least two people available to you at all times,” he explained.

I looked down, understanding protocol but finding it difficult to maintain eye contact with him. After the run-in earlier and my embarrassment over what I’d asked him, things were beyond awkward.

“You’re gonna have to tell lover boy you can’t see him tonight,” Tristan said.

I glanced up at him. “What?”

“If you stay in, you won’t be able to go to that movie.”

Was he pushing me to be with Chris? Or, was he just curious to see my reaction? Game on, bodyguard. “That’s okay. There are a lot of other things Chris and I can do in my room.”

Tristan’s eyes grew stormy, anger brewing in them.

Aha! Is that jealousy I see? “You could hang out with us if you’d like.”

His face scrunched. “Why would I ever want to do that?”

I shrugged. “But, you’d obviously need to duck out if things…you know…heat up with Chris and me.”

The ticking in his jaw said all I needed to know. Tristan Stone was jealous. Over me.

“Or…” I mused, trying to decide how to play this. “You and I could just hang tonight.”

His eyes moved over my face, an internal war raging within him.

What’s it gonna be, Tristan? “There’s that movie on the quad Chris mentioned,” I suggested.

“Do you know how difficult it is to protect you in a quad filled with people?”

My eyes moved to my bare feet, my lips twisting regrettably. I enjoyed pushing Tristan’s buttons, but it suddenly wasn’t fun anymore. Reality always had a way of reminding me that my life wasn’t easy. “I’m sorry everything is so difficult when it comes to me.”

He huffed. “It’s not that.”

I met his eyes. “Then what is it?”

He stared at me for a long time, his teeth dragging across his bottom lip. I couldn’t tear my eyes from his. He stepped forward, moving toward my room. I stepped back. He brushed by me and walked inside.

I closed the door and turned to face him.

He continued to stare at me, his eyes moving over the cutoffs and T-shirt I now wore.

“What?” I asked, the silence and close proximity daunting.

“I didn’t get you a birthday gift.”

My brows knit together. “I don’t need anything.”

He stepped forward, causing me to step back. My back hit the door. I swallowed hard as Tristan’s chest pressed to mine, his hands flat against the door above my head. My heartbeat began to slam against my ribs. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his. They were so damn blue and hypnotic as he gazed down at me from mere inches away. We’d never been this close and time seemed to stall.

“You asked me for something last night,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.

I closed my eyes, embarrassed that my memory had been spot on.

“Do you remember?” he asked.

My eyes reopened and I nodded, embarrassment undoubtedly etched in my features.

His hands lowered from the door and cupped my cheeks. I stilled, stunned by his gentleness. His hands