“They wouldn’t. Trust me.”
He licked away a smile. “I must be insane then.”
My stare fell. “You’d have to be to put up with me.”
My eyes barely skimmed the concrete before his hand caught under my chin, holding my gaze steady. “Maybe,” he said quietly, “but you’re the kind of madness I’d choose every time.”
Oh my.
My heart tripped over itself, stupid and soft and hopeless. For once, I didn’t want to fight it. Didn’t want to hide behind the armor I’d spent years building. I just wanted to stand there, with him, and believe I was worth choosing.
My hand lifted to his jaw, eyes narrowed slightly. “You never cease to amaze me, you know.”
His hand snaked round the back of my head and he pressed his lips to my forehead. “Right back at you, angel.” Then he slipped his hand into mine and guided me to the blankets. “Come on.”
The closer we got, the more I could make out what was on them.
A giggle slipped out of me as my head shook, eyes catching the dusting of silver specks that were dotted over the fading sunset. “Crumpets and stars. I can't believe this.”
Marcus groaned as he sat down. “It's a good thing you only wanted them, because it was the only thing I could cook up here without potentially burning the entire building down.” He shrugged. “And Goldie told me they’re your favourite.”
“I’m such a stereotype.”
He plucked two out of the packet and shoved them in the toaster. “I’ve never had one.”
My eyes widened as I claimed the spot next to him. “You’veneverhad a crumpet?”
He shrugged, smile wide. “They weren’t exactly a staple in a Chilean household.”
“You’re from Chile?” My brows tugged. “I didn’t know.”
“I never told you.” His eyes were on the stars. “We moved after what happened to Lana. Mamà wanted a fresh start. Lana had already left and being home reminded her, all of us, too much of what happened. So, she gathered me and Oscar and told us to spin the globe, and wherever we landed, we’d go.”
“And that’s why you’re here?”
His face cringed. “Well, when we spun it we landed on the North Pole and I was devastated because, well, penguins.” That made me giggle. “So then we spun it again and landed on Boston and well…” He raised his hands. “There we were.”
I’m pretty sure my smile didn’t drop the entire time he was talking. But then, out of nowhere, I couldn’t feel it anymore.
And he noticed. “What is it?”
I lied—I knew exactly why it dropped.
“I feel bad, for not knowing these things.” My shoulders lifted, catching the breeze. “For people who have been around each other as much as we have, it’s weird I don’t know more about you.”
His head tilted. “I wasn’t exactly an open book when we met.”
“And I wasn’t exactly the nicest, either.”
He shrugged, brushing a crumb off the corner of my mouth. “I didn’t expect you to be, not after everything.”
“Still,” I shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
His knuckles nudged my chin. “You’re all good, Holland. Just don't go broadcasting my love for penguins. Can't have the world thinking the security high lord has a soft side.”
"Oh I don't think you have a soft side at all." My smirk curled. "I think you're all soft. You just enjoy wearing black."
His chin jutted at me, matching smirk twisting up his mouth. "You talking about me or you, angel?"
