A laugh slips from my mouth before I can stop it, causing Mirabelle to look over at us. “Everything okay over there?”
“Yep,” I blurt out, and Bailey snickers next to me. “Just something funny in my book.”Oh god, please don’t ask me about anything about this book because I definitely will not be able to tell you a single thing.
“You’ll have to let me know if you like it. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet,” she says, and I nod as if I have any clue what’s going on in the book. Can’t even recall the name of it, so I hope Mira doesn’t ask.
“Really good, you should totally move it up your TBR.”
Mira seems satisfied with this answer and returns to her game after Javi tugs at her blanket.
Bailey closes his laptop, setting it to the side, and his thigh presses against mine. Would it be super noticeable if I pulled him out of the room to go make out? I honestly think Mirabelle would cheer if I leaned over to kiss him now.
“You’re distracting me. I’m reading a book,” I whisper, but I don’t want him to move away.
“Oh, so what’s it about?” he asks, seeing right through me.
“I wasn’t reading it,” I admit, stealing a glance at him.
“That’s what I thought.”
The smugness in his voice makes me want to shove him, but it also makes me want to kiss him. It’s annoying, but this is also Bailey. It might only be a shadow of who he used to be before everything, but it’s refreshing. I don’t expect him to be who he was, but it’s nice to see him lighten up after letting me carry some of the burden on his shoulders.
“Come with me.” I reach for his hand, pulling him with me.
Predictably, Mirabelle’s head swings our way again. “Where are you going?” she asks as Bailey rises behind me.
“To see what other games you have, but I need Bailey’s help grabbing the ones from the top shelf.” I don’t miss howshe smiles at the fact I conveniently need his help, despite the fact there being a stack of other games in here. I’m also tall enough to reach the top shelf on my own, but I’m hoping she’ll drop it.
“Don’t be gone long.”
I nod, trying to be nonchalant while walking out of the room. Instead of continuing down the hallway where the game closet is, I grab Bailey’s hand and turn to pull him into the guest room where I usually stay when I visit Henry and Mirabelle.
“Kait, what are we doing in here?” he asks after I shut the door behind him.
“We’re going to talk.”
“Talk?” he questions, and I think he’s doubting me.
We actually are going to talk because a lot’s changed, and I want to make sure we’re on the same page. After that . . . well, that’s up to Bailey.
I don’t have time to repeat myself before he’s kissing me. It’s intoxicating, and I nearly forget why I brought us in here. I pull him backward with me, my knees buckling as I hit the edge of the mattress, bringing him down with me. Bailey chuckles, the sound rattling through my bones and leaving a mark on my soul.
His body presses against mine in all the right ways as he lies over me, a soft moan escaping from his throat. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says, and I hold onto his shoulders, keeping him close to me.
I want him.
My fingers tangle in his hair, pulling on the short strands because I remember how he seemed to like it when I did that yesterday, and a whimper escapes him before he kisses me again.
Shit, this isn’t what we’re supposed to be doing.
“W-wait a second. I really did want to talk.”Fuck, I am so out of breath.What did I want to talk about again?
Bailey presses one more short kiss to the corner of my mouth before separating himself from me. His exhale is long, and the mattress dips as he moves. “Okay. Let’s talk,” he agrees and I press my hand to my chest, feeling my heart beat rapidly.
“Right, yes, talking.” My brain feels scrambled, and I can’t remember what thoughts I was looking for.
He smiles at me, and the windows rattle in the background. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Shut up.” I glare at him, and Bailey moves to sit against the headboard. I follow his lead, but he pulls me flush against his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
