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Chapter 41: Mixed Signals and Midterms

Author: Angel
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-06-17 20:45:07

The scent of pine-scrub floor cleaner fills my lungs as I drag the brush along the grout lines. My fingers ache. My knees are bruised from hours on the tiles. My reflection in the polished oven door looks like someone else—someone worn down, scraped hollow, obedient.

Perfect.

I lean forward, scrubbing harder.

And then—I feel him.

A presence behind me, warm and close, and before I can turn, his hand slides over mine, stopping the brush mid-stroke.

“Are you planning to die doing this?” Oliver murmurs, his voice low, rough with amusement. “Because if so, you’re doing a hell of a job.”

I don’t move. I don’t look up.

“It’s your call,” I say evenly. “You can either let me or stop me.”

His fingers tighten just slightly. “You never ask for help,” he says, mouth closer now—too close. “You just punish yourself until you bleed. It’s such a turn-on, it’s honestly rude.”

I almost laugh. Almost.

But then his thumb brushes the inside of my wrist—just once—and the air leaves my lungs in a shaky breat
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