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I kiss the corner of her mouth. Soft and long. I’ll take that if it’s all she’ll give me.
But Laney turns her mouth into mine, and we kiss.
I kiss her as if I’m laying down roots. As if nothing can tear down what we’ve made right here, right now. There are still obstacles to overcome, hurt I have to heal within myself.
However, I know enough now.
The want. It’s reciprocal.
Laney shudders away all of a sudden and pushes herself to standing. “I need to go.”
“Lane–”
“I have to–yeah, I have to go.” She almost trips over her own feet, trying to rush away from me on the bench.
I don’t chase her like I did before.
She’s in flight mode and will only tremble at being cornered.
I latch myself to the bench and watch her go.
Beautiful angel disappearing on Park Avenue, rushing away from me because her heart is being tugged in two different directions.
Just you wait, Lane.
I smile.
30
LANEY
I slamthe door to the penthouse behind me and try to catch my breath. I’m close to hyperventilating.
What just happened?
Nate enters the front hall, looking snappy in dress slacks and shirt. “Hey,” he says, a little bit nervous to face me after I snapped at him about organizing a meet-up for me and Mason.
“Hi,” I reply, a mere squeak.
“Where’s your stuff?”
“My what?”
Nate’s face creases with worry. “You said you were getting a Red Bull or something? From the bodega.”
Fuck, I didn’t get my fucking Red Bull. I had been looking forward to that all morning, but then Mason had to show up and screw with my head, and now I’m Red Bull-less.
“Forgot,” is all I manage to mutter.
Nate takes a step closer.
My body pushes itself up against the front door. It’s reflexive, not at all in my control. I feelcornered. Like someone is reaching into my burrow, trying to scoop me up and put me in a cage.
“Are you okay?”
No, I think.
“Laney?”
