“She sounds loyal,” I tell him.
“She is. They all are. Nancy, too.” He’s silent for a moment. “I was thinking…” He rubs the back of his neck. “Maybe the manor could use some color.”
“Oh?”
“It’s a lot of gray and silver. Don’t you think?”
“I don’t think you can have too much gray or silver.”
He smirks. “It could use some red, maybe?”
“Red?” I reply, my tone disapproving.
“Blue?
I frown. “Blue?”
He sighs. “Pink?”
“Now we’re talking.”
“But not too much.” We’ve reached my door and he stops. “Maybe a few pops of color.”
He stares down at me, and the corners of his eyes are soft as if whatever shields he usually has up have vanished.
“Pink is a good idea.”
“But just a few pops,” he says again, as if trying to make sure I don’t go overboard.
I will for sure go overboard.
“Not too much,” I say, pretending to agree.
He studies me for a moment, and the air around us buzzes. His eyes drop to my lips. My eyes drop to his, and I think,This is it; he’s going to kiss me.
He bends down and I ready myself.
When his mouth touches my cheek instead of my lips, disappointment floods through me.
But then his lips linger. Warm. Soft. His breath ghosts across my skin. And somehow that makes it more intimate than if he'd kissed my mouth.
I lean into it, eyes closing, memorizing this—how he smells, how his hand steadies my waist, how my heart drums so loud I'm sure he can hear it.
And then it’s over.
He pulls back and his eyes flick to my door. “Keep it open?”
I nod. “Keep it open.”
Eryx
Ishould have followed her.
Into her room? Of course you should have,Nightmare scolds.She wanted a kiss! I could see it in her eyes, and you went and pecked her on the cheek. Did you see her dress? She wore that for you, and you went and bombed the whole night.
My shoulders tense.I told her she could decorate.
Next time tell her to decorate you—with whipped cream.
