Her brows lift, cautious but not backing away.“Where?”
“Home,” I say.“To mine.”
Because I need her there.
I need her on my couch with music playing in the background while I tell her it’s me.This is Otis, and we’re dying to invite her in.Talk with her for hours and not just chat through the computer.I might not ask her to stay today.We just need to start.Then, tomorrow, I might tell her that I need her in my kitchen, barefoot, yelling at me for burning something stupid.
I need her in my bed, whispering stories into my mouth while I learn her body all over again.
I need her.
And if she says yes right now, I’m not sure I’ll even make it through the front door before I lose control.
ChapterOne Hundred Sixteen
Kit
October 7th, 1997
I don’t know if this is a good idea.It probably isn’t.But I follow Roderick anyway.
Because it feels important to him.The way he asked.The edge in his voice.The way he looked at me, as if I said no ...Something vital might slip through his fingers.And maybe that same thing is slipping through mine too.
Besides, the dog is ridiculously cute.I might steal him if this conversation doesn’t go the way I want.
Okay, I won’t actually kidnap the dog—but I might bribe Roderick into letting me walk him daily.As long as he lives close enough for it to be a casual, not-at-all-emotionally-desperate arrangement.
“Okay, but this better be good,” I say as we walk.My arms are crossed, but it’s more for protection than sass.I’m holding in so much already.
“It could be great ...”he says, then pauses, grinning.“Or terrible.”
“Not exactly reassuring, Wild.”
He glances at me, the corner of his mouth tilting just enough to undo my defenses.“I missed you calling me that.”
We cross the street, and he slows just slightly as if drawing this out, like the moment deserves more time.
“Your father suggested I use it professionally,” he adds.“Told me the public would eat it up.I said no.”
I squint at him.“Why not?”
“Because it was yours,” he says simply, as if that explains everything.“It was always yours.”
“Even after we broke up?”My voice sounds small, almost embarrassed, like I’m asking a question I shouldn’t still care about.
He looks at me then.And it’s not just a look—it’s a confession.“It’s always been yours, Kit.”
We don’t say anything else as we enter the building.It’s new, sleek, and too polished to feel anything but a little intimidating.The doorman greets me like I belong here, which is both flattering and jarring.Roderick introduces me to Leonard and says that if things go well, I should be added to the visitor list.
“The list?”I scoff, as he steps into the elevator beside me.“Cocky of you to think I’ll be visiting again.”
He shrugs like it’s already decided.“If you don’t like my place, we’ll move.”
I blink.“We?”
The elevator dings and we step out.
“This lease is just for a year,” he says.“Next June, I might get a house.Something with space.”
