CHAPTER 7:TOO CLOSE

“Has been watching me?”

I stared at Blake.

He nodded.

“I don't know who it is.”

I looked toward the house.

Every window suddenly seemed darker than it had a moment ago.

“That's supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

“At least you're honest.”

He almost smiled.

Almost.

Then his expression turned serious again.

“I'm going to find out who sent that message.”

“You don't have to protect me.”

“I know.”

“Then stop acting like you do.”

He stepped closer.

“That's the problem, Chloe.”

“What is?”

“I don't know how to stop.”

My heart skipped.

I looked away.

“Blake…”

“I mean it.”

His voice was quiet.

“You've been here for less than a week, and somehow I notice everything you do.”

I swallowed.

“That isn't normal.”

“I know.”

He was standing close now.

Too close.

I could smell his cologne.

I could feel the warmth coming from him.

But he didn't touch me.

He just looked at me.

And somehow that was worse.

“You're staring,” I whispered.

“So are you.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

I looked up.

His eyes were fixed on mine.

For once, there was no teasing in them.

Just something I couldn't explain.

Something that made my stomach flutter.

Then he lifted his hand.

I instinctively held my breath.

His fingers stopped inches from my face.

“You have something here.”

He gently brushed a tiny piece of hair away from my cheek.

My entire body went still.

It was such a small gesture.

But it felt like too much.

His hand dropped.

Neither of us moved.

Then a car horn sounded from the street.

We both stepped apart.

I exhaled.

Blake glanced toward the road.

“Aria's friend.”

“Right.”

I suddenly felt embarrassed.

I picked up my phone.

“I should go inside.”

“Chloe.”

I stopped.

“Yeah?”

He hesitated.

“Forget what happened just now.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because you're Aria's best friend.”

“And you're her brother.”

“Exactly.”

He walked past me.

But before he reached the door, he stopped.

Without turning around, he said,

“And because if we keep doing things like that…”

He paused.

“I don't think I'll be able to pretend it means nothing.”

Then he walked inside.

I stood there alone.

My heart was pounding.

And for the first time, I wondered if Aria's warning had nothing to do with Blake being dangerous.

Maybe she knew something I didn't.

Maybe she knew exactly how easy it was to fall for him.

---

The next morning, I tried avoiding Blake.

It lasted approximately twenty minutes.

I walked into the kitchen and found him sitting at the table.

He looked up from his phone.

“Morning.”

I opened the refrigerator.

“Morning.”

“You're avoiding me.”

“No, I'm not.”

“You didn't even look at me.”

“I’m looking at the refrigerator.”

He laughed.

I grabbed a bottle of water.

“See? Completely normal.”

“Very convincing.”

I turned around.

He was smiling.

I hated that smile.

“Do you ever stop?”

“No.”

“Wonderful.”

I started walking away.

“Chloe.”

I stopped.

He held up a small paper bag.

“You forgot your breakfast.”

I frowned.

“I didn't ask you to get me anything.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you?”

He shrugged.

“Because you always skip breakfast.”

I stared at him.

“How do you know that?”

He looked at me for a second.

“I pay attention.”

My heart did that annoying little flip again.

Before I could respond, Aria walked in.

She looked between us.

“Why are you two staring at each other?”

“She's staring at me,” Blake said.

I turned sharply.

“I was not!”

Aria laughed.

“Okay, okay. Relax.”

She grabbed the paper bag.

“What's this?”

“Breakfast.”

“For Chloe?”

“Yes.”

Aria looked at her brother suspiciously.

“Since when do you bring my best friend breakfast?”

Blake shrugged.

“Since she started forgetting to eat.”

Aria looked at me.

Then at him.

Then back at me.

I suddenly became very interested in the floor.

“Interesting,” she said.

“Don't make it weird,” I muttered.

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

She laughed.

Blake smiled.

And for a few seconds, everything felt normal.

Almost.

---

That afternoon, Aria convinced me to go to a small party.

I wasn't in the mood, but she refused to take no for an answer.

When we arrived, music was already playing and people were gathered around the pool.

I spotted Blake almost immediately.

He was talking to a group of people.

Then he saw me.

His eyes stayed on me.

Aria leaned toward my ear.

“Don't.”

I looked at her.

“Don't what?”

“Whatever you're thinking.”

“I wasn't thinking anything.”

“Good.”

She walked away.

I sighed.

Then someone approached me.

“Hey.”

I turned.

A guy I didn't recognize smiled at me.

“I'm Ethan.”

“Chloe.”

“Can I get you a drink?”

“Sure.”

We started talking.

He was funny.

Easy to talk to.

And completely harmless.

But after a few minutes, I felt someone watching us.

I looked across the yard.

Blake.

His expression had changed.

He wasn't smiling anymore.

Ethan said something, but I barely heard him.

Blake walked toward us.

Slowly.

He stopped beside me.

“Aria's looking for you.”

I frowned.

“She is?"

“Yes.”

Ethan looked between us.

“Are you her brother?”

Blake nodded.

“Yeah.”

Ethan smiled.

“Nice to meet you.”

Blake's eyes stayed on him.

“You too.”

But his tone said something completely different.

Ethan glanced at me.

“I'll see you later?”

“Sure.”

He walked away.

I turned to Blake.

“What was that?”

“What?”

“You scared him away.”

“I did nothing.”

“You were glaring at him.”

“I was not.”

“You absolutely were.”

He stepped closer.

“Maybe I didn't like the way he was looking at you.”

I stared at him.

“Why?”

Blake didn't answer.

He just looked at me.

Then, quietly, he said—

“That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out.”

He walked away before I could respond.

I stood there, completely stunned.

Then my phone buzzed.

A message from Aria.

Where are you?

I typed back.

Outside. Why?

Her reply came seconds later.

Because Blake just told me something about you.

My heart stopped.

What did he tell you?

The typing bubble appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally, her message arrived.

He said he's starting to like you.

I stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

And Chloe… I'm not sure I can let that happen.