I knew I would never be able to make it up to her.
I grit my teeth. “We’ve already been through this. I pulled you out. I kept you safe.”
“Yes, we’ve established that. If only you’d never told me a literary icon was just a few feet away.”
“And I’m fuckingsorry,” I snap. “I never would’ve done it if I’d known you’d jump in. Goddamn, Hattie. What kind of shit-wretch do you think I am?”
She hesitates.
“The kind who used to pull pages out of my favorite books for fun?”
“Yeah, and I bought you new copies, didn’t I? Better ones. I’d leave you hardbacks before you left to go home.” I’m closer now, leaning over her, my hand on her arm, though I don’t remember putting it there.
Her perfume merges with the heady summer night, something rich like hints of mocha or plum.
“Youwere the one who sent the books?” she whispers.
“Who did you think? Margot?” I snort. “Don’t think she’s ever read a complete novel in her life that wasn’t for school or a fashion show. She absorbed damn near everything from the movies, the brat.”
“And you weren’t one too?” She sucks in a breath through parted lips.
“I was a hellraiser, but I never meant to hurt you, Pages.” The old name comes back too easily, landing between us like an arrow, ripping us back to our youth.
Except neither of us are clueless teens anymore.
Her face tilts toward mine, half-shadowed, and she’s practically panting with frustration.
Her chest grazes mine.
My hand isstillon her arm.
Fuck, I don’t mean to, but I lean in, the gravity taking over.
Her green eyes widen.
She doesn’t move, yet the collision feels inevitable.
This primal need to taste her, just once.
To remind her who’s in control.
To know what it’s like.
To fix the fucking wires she’s crossed in my brain.
I must be insane, but it can’t stop the way my body responds to her.
Urgent, needy, and overwhelming.
Her lips part. My muscles tighten in anticipation.
Then the door flies open and I hear heels on the pavement as Margot charges through.
Hattie jerks back like she’s been hit by lightning.
I rip myself away, trying to clear my head.
Be happy, you fool. Margot just saved you a ton of fucking grief.
