Page 120 of Power Play

“They matched.”

“You sank four inches into the dirt.”

“The silhouette mattered.”

“You complained for three hours.”

“Fashion requires sacrifice.”

“Tonight, it requires sneakers.”

I narrowed my eyes. “We’ll negotiate.”

“We won’t.”

He kissed me once more, quick and firm, before stepping back. The loss of his body made the apartment feel cooler.

Ryan gathered the books we weren’t using and returned them to his canvas bag while I stared at the Spanish notebook.

Te extraño.

Vuelve.

Nobody else had a place between us, and tonight, he was taking me on a date we hadn’t quite called a date.

Ryan put his cap back on and caught me smiling. “What?”

“I’m thinking.”

“Too loud.”

I walked him toward the door. “Maybe I’m looking forward to tonight.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth. “That makes two of us.”

I opened the door, but Ryan stepped into the hallway and immediately turned back. His hand caught my waist before I could move, and his kiss came fast enough to steal my breath.

He released me just as quickly. “Seven, mi hada.”

I touched my mouth. “You already said that.”

“I’m making sure you remember.”

“I remember everything that stresses me out.”

Ryan’s expression softened as he reached back and brushed his knuckles across my cheek. “This doesn’t have to.”

I looked at him.

“I’m not going anywhere tonight,” he said.

The words settled through me.

Tomorrow still contained Flint, and two weeks from now might change the shape of whatever we were becoming. Tonight, Ryan stood in my doorway looking at me like there wasn’t another place he wanted to be.

For once, I let that be enough.

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