Page 55 of Embrace

There’s a minute of silence when he lets the words float into the tiny space between us. “I hate that I actually believe that.”

Kian smiles. “Yeah?”

“You know it’s impossible to be mad at you, don’t you?”

He chuckles. “You can be, you know. If that’s how you feel, you don’t have to give in to me easily.”

I shake my head, letting my palm press against his cheek. My own gesture surprises me. For me, touch has always been reserved for the intimacy behind closed doors. But there’s something aboutKian, how comfortable he makes me just by existing. He’s disarming, and with him, I almost crave the platonic touch.

“I think you deserve easy.” Kian blinks like it’s a foreign concept, leaning into my hand. “You don’t have to break your back proving yourself to me. I already know.”

“Know what?”

“That you’re good.” I take his face in both hands. “That you’ve never done anything to be a bad person.” I press a hand to his chest, right over his fast-beating heart. “This right here deserves everything it’s given to others.”

His shoulders slump a little. Like he’s letting something go, almost like he believed it. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I’m okay, Kian.”

Those words do more for him than anything else.

“Is this a bad time to ask you to look over my assignment?”

I shove him, not hard but enough to make him stumble. He catches himself, laughing under his breath.

“Can I hug you now?”

“Yeah, Kian. You can hug me.”

He pulls me in tight, like he needs proof I’m really here. When he finally lets go, his hands linger at my elbows, his thumb brushing once before he drops them.

“Where were you going before you hit me with your car?”

“I didn’t—” I sigh. “To the women’s shelter.”

“Can I come?”

I pause. The shelter loves new people, especially if they’re vetted by someone who’s volunteered with them for a long time.

“Are you sure? Don’t you have other plans?”

He shakes his head.

“If they have space they’ll probably put you in the kitchen, so you don’t have to.”

Kian nods. “I’m great at peeling potatoes.”

I watch him. “I already forgave you. You don’t need to do this.”

“I know, but I want to.”

I don’t know what to expect when Kian climbs into my car and actually lets me drive to the women’s shelter. But it’s definitely not the way he lights up the place the second we walk in. I should’ve known though. He’s sunlight in human form.

I introduce him to Neha, but just as she’s going to show him the office where he can help, one of the kids is pulling on his arm, urging him to follow them.

“Do you know how to play?” she asks him, handing him a basketball.

He smiles. “I’m a hockey player, but I think I can figure it out. Do you wanna play?”