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She looks down quietly before she says, “Oh, she’d totally let me wiggle out of it. It’s just...it’s not that easy for me. I agreed because I thought I needed an extra kick in the butt.”
My grip on her hands tightens as she looks up.
Her eyes are full of shadows and gold in the string lights overhead, stretched between the bar’s decorative sunshades, hanging above us like fireflies.
“What kick?” I echo gently. “Why are you so hard on yourself?”
“Because. I’mtiredof being the boring girl. The good girl, especially at these stupid parties,” she rushes out. “I’m sick of being so flipping indecisive, of overthinking everything, of being alone while everybody else is pairing up and having the time of their lives.”
The hurt simmering out of her feels too real.
I also sense she isn’t done, so I squeeze her fingers again, urging her to let the rest out. She’s been holding on to this venom for a while.
I should know better than anyone how unhealthy that can be.
“And...and honestly, until tonight, I thought I’d just give up and let Marnie have the last laugh, as pathetic as that sounds. I thought I’d just let her choose because maybe sheshould.”
Her face falls as she wipes another rogue tear away.
With my breath lodged in my throat, I reach up and cover her hand, pushing it down and swiping the tear off her skin.
“Until tonight, huh? What changed?”
When she turns her face up to meet my eyes, I have my answer.
Her eyes glow so brilliantly they’re almost like lacquered wood.
They’re beaming a message that rips me completely the fuck in two.
Until you.
Fuckity.
Whatever I expected I might run into tonight with diving exercises outside my usual range, it damn sure wasn’t this.
Now, I have a choice to make with a dozen wicked consequences, and about ten seconds to decide.
As soon as I’m sure she’s sobbed her last, I wrap her up tight in my arms, gazing into those beautiful eyes.
They’re so conflicted they’re white like paper smeared with ink.
I draw her closer. My lips make a vow my brain has to match.
I’m going to make this princess whole.
3
Rose-Colored Glasses
I. Am. Reeling.
I expected him to hate me after I opened up, to say some cruel thing, to laugh in my face.
It might’ve been easier if he had.
Because at least then I wouldn’t be totally boneless.
But I also wouldn’t be a melting heap in his arms, fused to the hottest kiss of my life, digging my nails into his powerful neck and moaning until I’m delirious.
