There’s only one thing that could make this moment better—reclaiming her body.
She must be on the same page because when we come up for air, she whispers, “Get me out of here, Reed. I need you.”
“What do you need?” I taunt, wanting her to say the words in whatever beautiful or chaotic way she can.
“You. Inside my body like you’re in my heart.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself, cookie.”
And then my phone rings.
Fuck.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Roadside confessions and orgasms
LILA
Neither of usspeaks for a while. What do you say after finding out that you’ve hated each other for the last five years because of a lie?
How could Kenzie do this to me? To us?
And why?
I’ve always wanted her to be happy. Shouldn’t she want the same for me? I think that’s what hurts the most.
Reed refuses to let my hand go as he drives us across town. Every few moments, he brings it to his lips for a soft kiss. The tender gesture is so at odds with his normal disposition as a grumpy grump face.
Of all the times for him to be called into work. How is that fair?
Leaning my cheek against the headrest, I can’t stop staring at him. I don’t care if it makes me a creeper. There’s a new Reed beside me, and if I look away, he might disappear.
Actually, he isn’t anewReed. He’s more like the old Reed. The man who won my heart instead of stomping on it.
Although there’s nothing different about his appearance, there’s a marked change in his energy. And I want to soak upevery bit of him in case this ends up being a figment of my imagination. It’s entirely possible I slipped and hit my head in the parking lot, and this is all a coma dream.
His jaw clicks, and he glances my way. “Lila, I’m gonna ask you something. I hope you’ll say yes, but I’ll understand if you don’t. Just please consider it before you shoot me down. Okay?”
Interesting setup.Totallynothing to worry about.
With a hint of trepidation, I ask, “What?”
“Instead of driving you home, I’d like to bring you to my place. You can wait there until I get back. For your safety.”
If he hadn’t couched his request by asking me to give it serious thought, I’d have already refused on gut instinct alone.
I squeeze his hand. “Why can’t I go home?”
“Not only do I want you to avoid confronting Kenzie without me, but there’s something else more pressing.”
“Go on.”
“Remember earlier when I told you Silas was dangerous?”
“Yes.”
He drags his teeth over his lip, seemingly choosing his words carefully.
