“No. Intense like a hot nerd.”
Oh. I have never thought of myself as a hot nerd. Nerd, yes, but not hot.
Luca brushes my hand, and I don’t flinch or pull away.
“You okay?” he asks. “I hope I’m not talking too much.”
“Not at all,” I say honestly. “I like listening.”
“Perfect. I talk enough for both of us.”
I laugh, and a group of guys glances over. My heart jumps, but nothing happens. They look away. Stay seated. I still clock the back exit.
“You alright?” Luca asks.
“Yeah, sorry. I got distracted.”
He gets us second drinks. I watch him chat easily with the bartender and check in with myself.
This has been fun. Luca is even nicer than I thought. He will want to kiss me. I know that.
Do I want to kiss him? I think—maybe.
Outside my house, he touches my cheek lightly.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks, his voice full of hope.
I know I could say no, but I want to kiss him. I want to know how it feels with him.
It’s a soft, careful kiss. No fireworks, no explosions. Just something pleasant and uncomplicated.
For one miraculous moment, I’m not prey. I’m not broken.
I’m just a boy being kissed under streetlights on a warm summer night.
CHAPTER 11 – CASPIAN
I’m in the kitchen, preparing snacks, when the front door opens and Noah darts past me. He heads straight toward the play corner I’ve set in the living room.
Grinning to myself, I start counting one, two—
“Triceratops!”
Cole steps into the kitchen and shoots me an exasperated look. We’ve talked about my habit of buying Noah toys, but as his honorary uncle I maintain it’s my prerogative.
“Noah, come and say hello properly. What do you say when someone gives you a gift?” Cole asks.
“That I like it !” Noah says happily, sprinting to the kitchen. He hugs my legs, and I ruffle his hair.
His eyes narrow suspiciously when he sees the carrot sticks I’ve been slicing.
“I’m not hungry, thank you.”
“It’s okay, these are not for you.” I push the bowl away. “These are for dinosaur trainers.”
Noah’s lips part, but he doesn’t say anything. I share a look with Cole. I think we’re both counting one, two, three—
“But I am a dinosaur trainer!” Noah declares. He squares his small shoulders, ready for battle.
