The word us on his lips sends a sizzle down my spine and all the way to my toes. “I don’t know. I mean, there’s Abby to consider.”

“There really isn’t though.”

“Maybe. But she was just here, and like it or not, she’s still part of your life right now.”

He opens his mouth like he wants to object, then stops. His eyes break away, and like an open sore, Abby festers between us.

“And then there’s the whole fight to the death thing,” I add.

He laughs and the tension eases somewhat. He shoves his hands in his pockets. “I don’t care about Abby. I don’t care much about the competition either. All I know is I would like there to be an us. But the truth is . . . the truth is I’m a bit scared.”

“Scared? Of what?”

“Of you.”

“Me?” I laugh. “I am not frightening.”

“But you are. I guess I’m more scared of how I feel. If it’s real, if I know what I want . . . All I know is I like you. And quite honestly, I’m not sure what to do about it.”

“Does something need to be done?”

He takes a step closer, sitting on the foot of the bed. “Well, Reese, when you like someone, you typically, you know, date.”

I’m blushing again. “I know that much.”

“But it might be weird, us dating and all, given that we basically live together.”

“For now.”

“Right. For now. I guess the question is, how do you feel? About me, specifically.”

“I’m not sure.”

He nods. “I guess I understand. You’ve seen me at some not-so-fine moments. I think in most relationships, you only show the good stuff initially and not all the bad stuff right away. We kind of went the opposite way.”

“It’s not . . . I don’t dislike you or anything. It’s just, I’m scared too. I’ve never—as you know—had any kind of . . . anything. With anyone. It’s terrifying.”

“Terrifying? Not horrifying, though?”

I smile. “Frightening. Chilling. Daunting and intimidating.”

“Is it less scary now that we’ve named it?”

“No. I think I’m just a scaredy-cat in general.”

“I think you’re pretty fierce, actually.”

I laugh softly. “No one’s ever attributed that adjective to me.”

“I could come up with more.” He leans closer and watches me. His eyes flicker to my mouth and then meet my eyes. “Tenacious. Intelligent. Kind. Passionate. Beautiful.”

I shake my head, but no words come out. How do I respond?

“This doesn’t have to be so complicated,” he says. “We could be scared together.”

“Fearful of each other but together.” I laugh.

“Just . . . promise to tell me if you’re thinking anything weird or crazy and I’ll do the same. And no other boys. No Dukes. And no Abbys.”

“No Dukes. No Abbys. Got it. What about the competition?”

“I don’t know. We still have two more challenges and at least four more days until Jude announces the winner. We can keep on as we have been. I’ll even take the floor if you want. There are no obligations. And as far as what happens when this whole thing is over . . . we can jump off that bridge when we get to it.”