I just... did it.
One second, I was standing there, my hands clenched at my sides, my jaw tight, my entire body wound so tightly I thought I might snap. The next, my hands were in her hair, and her back was against my bookshelf, and I was kissing her like she was oxygen and I had been drowning.
She made a small sound of surprise, and then she was kissing me back, her hands fisting in my shirt, pulling me closer, and shetasted like honey and hope and every reckless decision I had ever tried not to make.
This is insane.
This is a mistake.
This is... perfect.
Her fingers slid up to my neck, into my hair, and I heard myself make a sound that was definitely not professional, definitely not controlled, definitely not—
“WE BOTH LOSE, WINNIE!”
I jerked back.
Athena blinked up at me, dazed and flushed and beautiful.
In the doorway... because of course, ofcoursehe was, stood Fitz, his phone in his hand, his face split in the widest grin I had ever seen.
“HE’S ALREADY IN LOVE!” Fitz shouted into his phone, presumably to Winnie. “I SAID THREE MONTHS; YOU SAID SIX. BUT LOOK AT HIM! LOOK AT HIS FACE! THE MAN IS GONE!”
“Get out,” I said, my voice hoarse.
“This is incredible,” Fitz continued, completely ignoring me. “I mean, I knew it would happen eventually, but this fast? Mate, you didn’t even make it twenty-four hours back in New Haven. That’s got to be some kind of record.”
“Fitz.”
“And against thebookshelf? Very romantic. Very ‘I’ve lost all control of my life.’ I’m proud of you.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“No, you’re not. You’re too busy being in love.” He grinned at Athena. “Hello, Mrs. Darcy. Enjoying your tour of the clinic?”
“It’s wonderful,” Athena said breathlessly, her lips still swollen from kissing me, her hair mussed from my hands. “Very educational.”
“I bet.” Fitz’s grin somehow got wider. “Well, I’ll leave you two to your... education. But just so you know, Julien... the whole clinic has money on this. There’s a pool. When you would fall for her, how long until you admitted it, whether you’d do something dramatic like kiss her at work.”
“There’s a pool?”
“Very active pool. Hayden’s got money on you making a grand romantic gesture within the month. Nathan thinks you’ll panic and try to run. Gabriel’s betting on a dramatic confession during surgery.”
“During surgery?”
“He’s an optimist.” Fitz shrugged. “Anyway, I’m off to collect my winnings. Or rather… to split the pot with Winnie since we both lost the timeline bet. But honestly? Worth it. This was better than I imagined.”
He started to leave, then paused, looking back at me with something that was almost...almostsincere.
“For what it’s worth, mate? I’m happy for you. You deserve this. You deserveher.” His eyes flicked to Athena, then back to me. “Don’t screw it up.”
Then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.
Silence.
Athena and I stared at each other.
Her: flushed, disheveled, smiling like the sun had taken human form.
