I’m justitchingto kiss them, to taste the ones that for the last hour made me laugh, made me smile, made me spill all kinds of shit about myself—about missing my mom, my dad, the chaos that is my work, my love for traveling through Europe—things I normally would never really share on a date because, well… I don’t everdate.
Guess there might be a little room for change in my life after all.
That pretty, pouty mouth parts on a soft sigh that breathes over me, and shit, I’m so fucking close to saying fuck it and planting one right on him in front of that lens. Any minute now I’m gonna lean inand—
“Could we, uhh… could we try something?” Sadie interrupts after taking a couple of shots of us exactly like this—me staring between his mouth and eyes like he’s the only thing that exists right now, my hand absentmindedly rubbing along his leg.
Him staring right back, his arms loosely locked around my neck now, fingers toying with the hood of my hoodie like he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
At some point she made us put our sweaters back on, claiming she could crop out the company logo and that she really didn’t want us getting pneumonia. It was sweet—and very welcome.
At least the sun’s peeking out now, turning everything into some bright winter-wonderland scene instead of just freezing misery. Still, I don’t think I can blame the warmth spreading through me on that. Not when it flares every time he shifts closer, every time Sadie calls for another shot and we end up inches apart again.
And I swear, in every single one we’re grinning at each other like a couple of idiots.
Like fools.
It can’t be just me. Itcan’t.
That kind of smile can't be faked. That hopeful, slightly disbelieving, excited smile. The kind thatscreamshe wants to see me again just as much as I want to see him.
And if he’s faking it? Then he deserves a fucking Oscar.
I’m in deep fucking trouble. I already know it. I can alreadyfeelit. Somewhere deep inside me, something small justclickedinto place, like a piece finally settling where it’s supposed to, and I’m not entirely sure I’ll survive this man.
“Guys?” Sadie asks when we don’t reply, and I tear my gaze—with some serious effort—away from Milos. I lean back a little and raise my brows at her.
“Yeah?” Not ashamed at all that my voice comes out rough.
“If you’re comfortable… could you, uh, maybe lose the hoodies?”
I blink at her, glancing down at myself before looking back up.
“I’m happy to, but don’t you have enough pics without them?”
She grins, freckles standing out against her flushed cheeks from the cold. “Well… my next question was going to be whether you’d want to lose the shirts as well.”
Thewhoopbehind me can only come from his sister. Milos shoots daggers at her when he scrambles off my lap, and I can’t help grinning up at him even though I already miss the warmth and weight of him there.
“Sure,” I say easily, rubbing my hands together for warmth. “But you’re getting the medical bill if I end up in the hospital.”
“Fair enough,” Sadie laughs. “I just want to see both your bodies together.”
“Sadie! What’ll your fiancée say?” I scold, humor clear in my tone.
She rolls her eyes. “I meant your artwork. I’ve seen bits and pieces, but I’m curious. I only need a couple of seconds.”
“Only a couple, huh? Think you can do it under ten?” I ask as I shrug my hoodie off and grab the hem of my henley. Milos does the same in my peripheral, muttering something about the damn snow under his breath.
She makes a so-so gesture with her hand. “I’ll need sixteen tops. Promise.”
“Sixteen seconds?” Milos cuts in. “You better make them count, I’m freezing my balls off.”
“I promise that’s the last shot. We can go inside after, and warm those balls up.” Sadie nods toward the mural where we started the shoot, grinning. “Let’s go there? Lean against it. Just pick what feels good. I’ll take a few and then we’ll get a cup of hot chocolate.”
“Or a shot of bourbon,” Milos mutters under his breath as he does as she says, crossing the snow and picking a spot against the wall. “Maybe two.”
I shake my head in amusement as I pull my shirt off and push it in Nika’s hands, who’s blinking at me beneath that monstrosity of a hat of hers. The cold air instantly bites into my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms and across my chest.
