I scoff, “Sterling Ross doesn’t have his sights set on me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Lucky says, awake now and slipping his hand under my shirt.His touch is electric.“Mac’s clever enough to know brilliance when he sees it.”
I’m still pinching myself thatThe Heraldhas hired me as an investigative reporter.I finally feel like I’m doing the job I was born to do.
I know you will achieve great things, the email says, but does he mean it?
“Whatever,” I whisper as I lean down to kiss Lucky.
“Come on.You can be smug about it.I know you admire him.”Lucky’s voice is rough with more than sleep.He drags his fingers along the waistband of my underwear, pulling them lower to kiss my hip.
“He’s the reason I picked journalism as my major.The reason I came to Chance.”
He smiles up at me, the coincidence not escaping either of us.I’m glad for it.This connection between us is a lovely thing.
“And?”he coaxes, tossing my phone to the side and pulling me down the bed.“Is that all?”
“What are you implying?”
Lucky drags his lips along my neck.“You want him.”My first instinct is to deny it, but I don’t.“I’ll let you in on a secret, love.I want him too.”
“Oh,” I whisper.
This morning just became infinitely more exciting.
* * *
Make Your Choice:
keep that door wide open, please*(go to 43)
I prefer it closed(go to 46)
go back(go to 34)
The shop is gone.
Gone are the towering shelves and burning incense and warmth.
Instead, there are bricks and car horns and the thick stench of nicotine.A violent shiver runs through me.
We’re outside.How did we get outside?
The crystal has gone cold in my grip.My body feels strange—tingly and unstable.My vision ripples, like the moment before a migraine, flaring bright, but it’s gone as quickly as it came.
Like nothing happened.
“What the hell was that?”
I stare at Lucky.I wish I knew.
I open my mouth to reply, then freeze.
Lucky’s gone.
My heart pounds.He was just here.I’m sure of it.I?—
He reappears, slotting right back into reality like he never left.
