Page 123 of The Villain We Tempt

The truth is, yeah, Iwasmore than a little freaked out after I heard what happened last night. Papa’s not wrong: Hawthorne Hollow is asmalltown, and not one but two unidentified bodies turning up in the span of just a couple of monthsispretty chilling.

Then I opened my eyes this morning, saw the mask, andfroze.

Not out of fear. Shock, maybe. Surprise, for sure. But then I just lay there, looking at the mask, and whatever anxiety I was feeling last night about an eyeless body with a slit throat and a heart carved into its chest just…faded.

I close the door to my room and lean against the bathroom counter, my attention back on my parents.

“I have an idea.” Dad turns to smirk at Papa again. “Instead of rolling onto the Knightsblood Campus later today with tanks and paratroopers…” He shifts his gaze to me, arching a brow. “What would you say to some fam time this weekend?”

“Like, come home?”

Dad shakes his head. “I was thinking more that your Papa and I could use some country air. Would it be devastatingly humiliating if your ancient, decrepit parents came up for a day this weekend to visit you and your brother?”

A wide grin splits my face. “I wouldlovethat.”

Papa immediately looks ten times less morose. His face brightens, and he flashes me a grin before glancing at Dad. “I think that’s anexcellentplan.” He turns back to me. “I mean…if it’s not going to mess up anything for?—”

“Papa,” I giggle. “Please come. I miss you guys.”

“Done,” he declares. “I’ll text Maks to clear my schedule.”

When he’s gone, Dad chuckles and shakes his head. “How far do you think he’ll get before he realizes I’m still holding his phone?”

I giggle, then my brow furrows. “Hey, who’s Maks?”

Dad rolls his eyes. “Your Papa’s skanky new assistant.”

I snort a loud laugh. “Skanky?”

Dad scowls. “Guy looks like he belongs in a Dolce ad.”

“Dad…”

His mouth twists. “Hmm?”

“You realize you’re the most handsome guy in New York, right?”

Dad chuckles. “Obviously.”

I giggle. “There’s no way you’re actually worried about this Maks guy.”

He grins. “Oh, I’m not, really. But it’s fun to tease your Papa about the new eye candy he hired. The kiddroolsover him…obviously. And your Papa is…”

“Oblivious?” I grin.

“Blind,” he laughs. “I swear, the man has zero gaydar, it’s insane.”

Again, I think this has to be a major reason I love romance books so much: my parents have this love story that just keeps getting cuter as they get older.

I mean, they can squabble at times. But underneath it all is this bedrock certainty that they are destined to be in each other’s orbits forever.

I want that.

I want someone who looks at me the way my parents look at each other.

Dad’s saying goodbye when Ari walks back into the bathroom to say hi to him. Then Papa comes back into frame, having realized Dad still has his phone. The two of themloveAri, so I say my goodbyes and then let them continue gabbing away as I walk back into my bedroom.

It's fine. My social accounts are all two-factor locked.