Page 141 of Puck Me Back to Life

Kai blinks. “Ash?”

I stare at him. He looks thoroughly kissed, slightly confused, and entirely too beautiful sitting in the back seat of my truck.

Oh.

Oh, hell.

I'm in trouble.

Real trouble.

This isn't just attraction anymore. It isn't just incredible chemistry. It isn't just enjoying the way he responds to me.

Somewhere between buying him books…

And washing his hair…

And carrying him through yesterday…

I'd started falling.

The thought hits me like a body check.

Kai tilts his head. “What?”

I don't answer. Because I don't actually know.

I just know that I'm looking at him differently than I was a week ago.

I care whether he eats.

I care whether he sleeps.

I care whether he laughs.

When he cries, it feels like somebody is squeezing my ribs.

When he smiles, I catch myself smiling back before I realize I'm doing it.

That's…

Not casual.

Not even close.

Kai watches my expression change in real time.

Then, completely unexpectedly, he laughs. Not loudly. Just one warm, sleepy laugh.

“What?” I ask.

“You look so serious.” His grin grows. “It's kind of cute.”

Cute? Me? The word alone nearly short-circuits my brain.

He reaches over and pokes the center of my chest. “You've been thinking really hard for like…thirty seconds.”

Another poke. “Get off me.”