Chapter fifty two

Tammy's POV

The chill of the night air seems to seep into my bones, a contrast to the heat that was pulsing through me moments before.

"Forget we've ever been together," my words to Adam echo in my mind, leaving a bitter aftertaste.

I watch Adam's retreating back, the broad line of his shoulders disappearing into the darkness, and a hollow ache settles in my chest. His kiss still lingers on my lips.

I didn't intend to make him leave like that. Well, I did, but not in that way. I had expected things to go... smoother, to say the least.

I almost regret telling him to pretend. Almost.

'Liar.'

The word claws its way up my throat, but I swallow it down. I know I'm not fooling anyone, especially not myself. The kiss, the way my body had responded on its own accord, even the way I'd melted into him, was a betrayal of my carefully constructed walls, of my determination to leave, and of my fear.

I knew that after having a night together, he would begin to think that he had finally gotten to me. That's not the case, though. Even as I feel my resolve slowly crumbling, I know that.

I wish he understood that I asked him to forget because I would be leaving soon, and I don't want to get his hopes up.

'Or you don't want a reason to stay,' the nagging voice in my head says. I can't deny it, even to myself.

I push myself off the tree stump and head back to my room in the mansion. My room. One that had been carefully decorated for me - even though they got the colors wrong.

I laugh at the memory of coming in here for the first time, then fall on my bed with a groan.

"Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

The worst thing about all that happened yesterday - aside from my fainting - is that I don't seem to remember anything after Adam left my room. I know we had sex, and I know I fainted, but the details of the sex, or how I ended up in his room this morning, are a blur.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to imagine how things went, but nothing comes to mind. Only the images of tonight stick. The way Adam looked at me, it felt like he could see straight through my intentions. The way his touch made my skin tingle and my heart race.

It was terrifying, the way he easily distracted me from my reason for going to him in the first place.

Maybe, just maybe, if we were both werewolves - or humans - it'd have been a lot easier to deal with these emotions.

When I woke up and found myself naked and sore in his bed, my first thought was that I'd give myself a week to stay here. If I don't find anything meaningful about the book, I'll leave.

"What am I so afraid of?" I ask myself.

Adam? Of course not. I know I couldn't bring myself to be truly afraid of him, even in the times I'd seen him furious.

I'm afraid of my uncoordinated emotions. Of wanting him more than I already do. Of that becoming my reason to remain. I know that if I had remembered any important thing from last night, would crave his touch even more.

And that isn't something I want, or am willing to accept, knowing that I already sacrificed enough to come here. I might not even have a job anymore, but that doesn't mean I'll stay and keep working here.

I turn on the bed, the weight of my decisions pressing down on me. The night stretches out before me, long and dark, and I know I won't be able to fall asleep.

I hear a whisper from the other side of my door, followed by a knock. I'm stuck between being thankful for the interruption, or being annoyed by the disturbance so late at night.

Before going to open the door, I check the time on my phone. It's only ten, yet it feels like the night has stretched on for longer.

The knocking continues, more insistent this time. I reach the door and make out two distinct voices.

"Don't you think she's asleep?" I hear Eric whisper.

To answer his question, I open the door and move to the side. Ophelia immediately barrels into the room, a bag of popcorn? In hand.

Eric just shakes his head and follows after. He gives me a side hug once inside. "Hi, Tammy."

"Hi," I respond. With raised brows, I ask, "What's all this about?"

But before he can answer, Ophelia claps her hands, catching our attention. "Tammy," she says, her voice laced with excitement. "We're having a movie night!"

I turn back to Eric, he shrugs and walks past me to sit on the bed. Seeing that I don't have a say in this, I join them in sitting.

Ophelia plays with the bag of popcorn in her hands, while Eric scrolls through his phone, his expression tense. He catches me staring at him, and he quickly tucks his phone back into his pocket.

"What-" He shakes his head, and I take the cue not to ask questions.

Eric rubs his hands together. "So... how exactly are we going to watch a movie, Ophelia? There's no television in Tammy's room."

She giggles. "Oh, Adam's taking care of that. He'd be here soon."

At the sound of his name, my body reacts involuntarily, and I find myself shifting closer to Ophelia.

"Adam's joining too?"

"Of course he is. It's movie night, after all." A sly smile spreads across her lips. "Why, does it bother you?"

Her tone makes me wonder if Adam had told them what happened. But judging from the smile on her face, and that they picked my room for the movie night, I doubt he did.

I ignore her question and ask, "Do you guys do this often? The movie nights, I mean."

She nods enthusiastically, an excited glint in her eyes. "We do. On the last Friday of each month."

I nod, appreciating their close bond. It makes me wish I had siblings of my own.

Adam walks into the room, carrying a television and some cables like they weigh nothing. He places them on the ground adjacent to my bed and then turns to us with a smile.

But when his eyes meet mine, his smile falters, replaced by an unreadable expression. I feel a pang of hurt in my chest. He wouldn't even look at me the same way again.

Ophelia squeals in delight, making me break eye contact with Adam. She hurries to help him set up the TV.

Eric remains seated, his expression impassive and his eyes still glued to his phone, but every time I glance at him, he quickly hides it away.

Ophelia returns and squeezes herself between Eric and me on the bed, leaving only a space small space on my side. Adam hesitates before sitting there, casting a quick glance at the empty spot before lowering himself down.

"Movie time!" Ophelia exclaims, wrapping her arms around both Eric and me, and pulling us into the center of the bed.

She's so full of energy tonight.

Eric clears his throat. "What movie did you pick?"

"Annabelle," Ophelia replies excitedly. As if remembering something, she turns to me. "You don't hate horror movies, right?"

I shrug in response. I can't say I get scared, but I can't say I love them either. I'm only able to tolerate a few, as long as they're not too terrifying. Besides, the time for my opinion has passed, as the movie has already begun.

The opening credits roll, and Ophelia skips through them. The movie isn't as scary as I thought, although a few jump scares send me almost flying out of bed.

Now I find myself gripping Adam's arm without thinking. My eyes are still focused on the screen. Most of the scary parts have already passed, but I chose to hold on for safety's sake, but my body's still clinging to him, just in case.

He doesn't seem to mind. If anything, he looks amused.

That's good, because I can't imagine how awkward things will become if he pushes or shifts away from me.

Ophelia, on the other hand, squeals in delight every time the doll pops up. Eric, well... he's just as expressionless as he's been all evening.

I want to ask Adam if he knows what's going on with Eric, but I don't want to intrude. They've already been kind enough to include me in their sibling tradition.