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“What?” she asks, catching me staring again.

I shake my head.

“Nothing.”

She narrows her eyes. “You keep doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Looking at me like that. Stop it, it’s creepy.”

Lies.

I lean closer and lower my voice.

“Can’t help it, baby. You’re gorgeous when you’re happy. You steal my fucking breath away.”

Instantly, her cheeks turn an even deeper shade of pink.

And while she mutters something about me being a shameful flirt, I make a quiet promise to myself. Someday, I’ll give her the world and take her to every place that makes her heart happy.

Because I don’t just want to love the woman she’s shown me. I want to know and love the woman she was before me, too.

Fuck… yes.

group chat

Kozo adds Khaos to the chat

Kozo: (sends spicy US article about Artemis and Khaos)

Kozo: Shiiiiit.

Kozo: Who needs porn when you’re producing this high quality shit, bro?

Zymon: You’re a fucking masochist.

Kozo: What? I’m simply appreciating journalism.

Zymon: That’s not journalism. That’s you volunteering to get murdered.

Kozo: Worth it.

Khaos: Fuck this chat.

Khaos leaves the chat.

thirty-nine

. . .

Home is Him

“If jellyfish can glow in the darkest parts of the ocean, perhaps my heart can too.” – A

For twenty-seven years, my life has operated like a Swiss watch.

Wake up.