“How are you so tiny, yet so strong?” I ask, rubbing my arm with a pout.
She laughs at my dramatics, and the sound warms my entire body. I want to bottle up that laugh and keep it forever.
“If we don’t hurry, we won’t get a good seat.”
“Fi, we’re looking at the northern lights. I think all the seats are good.”
“But the seats on the cemetery hill are the best.”
I glance up at the sky. “I can’t believe we got lucky with a clear night. We literally never get to see any of the good weather events in Washington.”
Fi smiles and snuggles against my arm, shivering. This is new for us, and I’m so scared this bubble will burst because of her insecurities and my overwhelming need to possess every inch of her. I can be a lot.
“Hey, Fi?” I ask casually.
“Hmm?”
“Trey said that you went to Vancouver with Charlie for a bit over the holiday. Is she doing okay?”
Fi sighs. “Yeah, I think so. I mean, she did get drunk, confess to her brothers that she’s broke, and then ran off after said confession like an adorable, inebriated idiot.”
I chuckle. “That sounds like Charlie. She’s introverted until the booze kicks in.”
“Tell me about it! I spent the whole night charming her brothers, and then she ruined the vibe.”
I give her a sideways look as a tendril of jealousy curls in my stomach, but she doesn’t notice.
“Then, I was so upset that she’d run off that Sebastian had to talk me down from calling the FBI.”
I laugh. “The FBI? Shouldn’t you start with the police?”
“No way; she was on her way to becoming the subject of a murder podcast, and we all know that the cops are useless in those scenarios.” She grips my arm tighter as we leave the road and walk through the wrought-iron gates into the graveyard. “I was about to have a full-blown panic attack, so thank God Sebastian was with us. Hardly anyone has been able to talk me down, but he managed somehow.”
“He managed to what? What did he do?”
Fi seems to sense my tone and glances at me. “Brantley Michaels, are you jealous?”
“No,” I huff. “Why would I be jealous? Sebastian? I think I met him on campus with Charlie once. Tall, dark brown hair, bad case of resting bitchface?”
“I don’t know about resting bitchface. He was all smiles when we hung out.”
I grit my teeth, and Fi stops me. I look down at her face, all flawless pale skin and pink full lips in the moonlight.
“Nothing happened, if you’re worried,” she murmurs, giving me a mischievous smile.
The wind picks up and rustles the trees around us. Her auburn hair blows across her cheeks, and she pushes it behind her ears.
“I wasn’t worried.” My attempt at nonchalance fails miserably, and Fi steps closer, her lips hovering close to mine. She smells like gardenias and hot chocolate.
“Tell me what you want, B. I think I’m finally ready to listen.”
I swallow as her malachite eyes hold me still. “I want…” A crow caws above us, and I jump. “Fuck,” I say, flushing. “This is like a bad TV script. A fucking bird interrupted me.”
Fi giggles and leans forward, her soft lips brushing against mine. “Try again. Like you mean it, B.”
“I wantyou, okay?” I say quickly, stepping closer to her. My voice deepens as I cup her cheek in a possessive grip. “I make a lot of jokes, but right now, I’m dead serious. I want you to be mine. Understand? I don’t want you to look at anyone else. I don’t even want you to breathe in another guy’s direction. I want to be the only one who touches you and fucks you. And God, please say you want that too because I’m not sure I’ll survive if you don’t.”
My chest heaves like I’ve been running, anxiety buzzing through my veins and vibrating across my skin. I’m waiting for the sharp stab of her rejection, and won’t it be ironic when I bleed out in this graveyard from a broken heart?
