Free Heartless (The Heartless Series) by Kelly Martin Page B

mind. I have no idea what I look like to him, but I picture myself looking pretty badass.
    Sam doesn't even flinch. I suppose he isn't scared of little ole me. Bastard. "Don't you ever elbow me again, sweetheart. Got it? I put up with a lot from you, and I don't have to."
    "And I don't put up with a lot from you?" I hate that my voice shakes.
    He tilts his head to the side like he has to question what in the world I'm talking about.
    "You, Sam. You! You've been different lately. For the past week, you've been… I don't know. Drinking more. More distant. Sleeping on the couch. Maybe we shouldn't have moved in together. Maybe you would've been happier. I know we both need the rent, but…"
    "Is that the only reason you stay with me? Because I pay rent?" His grip loosens on my wrists, and he looks like some sort of lost puppy. He always did have puppy dog eyes that got him everything he'd ever wanted. When he asked me to move in with him, he had a sweet little puppy dog look on his face. The fact that he's still holding me down isn't going in his favor, though. I want up. I want up now.
    Puppy dog eyes will be the death of me.
    "No." Even though it's 95 percent a lie. "I'm not just here for the money or the apartment. But, look, my phone is my phone. There aren't any guys calling it or anything. Just Tina."
    Sam's lip twitches, and his grip tightens on my wrists. I expect him to do something. I'm not sure what. He leans down. His big, liquor-caused red eyes soften, and he rubs his nose across my cheek. I lay very still, not sure what he'll do next. I'm ready, though, to scratch his eyes out if I have to.
    The tip of his nose runs across my cheek, up my temple, and across my forehead until he lays his lips to my other cheek. Then, just like that, as quickly as he held me down, he lets me go. He sits up on the edge of the bed and rakes his hands through his hair. His shoulders are tense, and he looks frustrated. I can relate. I'm frustrated, too. Frustrated, sleepy, and tired of being me. I'm tired of having Hart in my head. I'm tired of seeing these people in my head.
    "You've changed." He says very low.
    "Me? I've changed?" Of all the…
    "Yeah, Gracen. You've changed. When we first started dating, I don't know, you were happy. You smiled. The weight of the world didn't seem to be on your shoulders. Hell, the cops didn't show up at the front door asking to talk to you about being a possible murder suspect."
    Wait, no one mentioned that. "You didn't say anything about being a murder suspect."
    "What did you think I meant, Gracen! They were here because your fingerprints were on a card in that dead girl's pocket. This is bad. Very bad." He shuts his eyes like he's fighting with his own brain for what to say. Truthfully, there are no right words to say in a situation like this. "You've changed, and it isn't for the better."
    Well, wasn't that the pot calling the kettle black? "And you haven't?"
    "I have. Because of you." He stands and paces the floor with his arms crossed over his chest. "I just… I don't know what you did. I don't know how to help you."
    "You don't have to help me. I'm fine. Of all the people in the world, you need to believe in me. You need to believe that I'm just going through some stuff right now, and that everything will be okay. I'll be okay, and everything will blow over. Just give me some space and some time and just chill out some. I don't need a warden."
    I'm so tired. My eyes can hardly stay open, and I fall back against my pillows. I don't want to be tired. I don't want to be fighting with Sam. I don't want any of this. Know what I want? To be in class. Learning. Or at the cafeteria with Sam, eating and laughing like we used to do. Or heck, I'd be okay chatting with Tina on Instant Messenger.
    Tina.
    Since I can't do any of the other options, I choose her. My phone screen lights up as I enter my code and wait.
    "You're seriously talking to that person you don't know at a time like this?" He's hurt. I