“I thought you said you weren’t a reader.”
“Oh, I’m not. But you are.”
“Well, I don’t want to waste your time if you’re not—”
“I want to see what all the hype is about.” His eyes land on the open book in his hand, while he pulls me in tighter with his arm beneath me. “Let’s read together, angel.”
Hours pass. The area downstairs has been busy with traffic for the past few hours, but no one has really ventured upstairs, giving us an extra level of privacy—not that anyone can see us anyway.
We’ve repositioned a few times throughout our reading session, but we’re back in the same position we started in. He shuts his book and fixes his gaze on the ceiling, his lips slightly parted. Noticing he’s closed his book, I shut mine, too, and set it on my chest. I just entered the epilogue anyway, so I’ve completed the main storyline.
I like to save epilogues for a rainy day.
Epilogues give me something to look forward to beyond the story’s ending. Often, I’ll read epilogues months or even years after completing a book, when I find myself missing the story and wanting closure.
This book was spicier than I anticipated. He wasn’t lying earlier—this story left very little to the imagination.
And I didn’t mind one bit.
“Well?” I ask, tilting my head. “Was it everything you hoped for?”
“Hold on,” he says, his lips thinning into a flat line as a quizzical expression settles on his features. I knit my brows. “Theending. I’m still processing it. Who on earth decided to make this bookastandalone? What do you mean, that’sit? I have so many unanswered questions. My head might just explode right here, right now.”
I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh.
“What?” He cocks an eyebrow.
“It makes me happy seeing you get so passionate about a book.” I smile wider, and this one isn’t fake.
“Well, I get the hype now, and I fear you’ve unlocked a new level to my afterlife. Be prepared for me to rant about this book—and many more—for the years to come.”
Years.Years?
“You’re something else, Kai.” I shake my head.
“Did you like your book?” he asks.
“I loved it. This was my first spicy book.”
“Oh, yeah? That’s hot.” He smiles with his eyes as my cheeks burn. “And same. I loved my read, too.”
“Sounds like you finally found the right book,” I remark.
“You helped me find the right one after all.”
His hazel eyes pierce mine.
My lips part. “You remember that? I didn’t think you would.”
“Of course, I do. I remember everything that involves you, Cleo.”
“But you were so—”
“Oh, hell yeah, I wasgonethat night.” He laughs, his abs rumbling against my lower back. “I told you. I couldn’t forget our moments even if I tried to.”
My chest feels lighter than it has in a while. Something about the rawness in his confession shakes me.
I thought I could do this. I thought I could lie to him, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.
