Page 165 of Puck Me Back to Life

He's wearing dark jeans and a fitted, black long-sleeved shirt. His silver hoops catch the hallway light immediately. The thin silver chain resting against his collarbone somehow makes the whole thing worse. Or better. Depending on who you ask.

The sight alone makes something inside my chest loosen. “Hey.”

Apparently, that's the best I can do. Real smooth, Grant.

Kai steps aside. “You gonna stand in the hallway all night?”

“Sorry, I forgot how pretty you are.”

His cheeks immediately turn pink.

Excellent. Some things remain reliable.

“You say weird shit.”

“It's accurate.”

He rolls his eyes but can't quite hide his smile.

I finally remember why I came here. “Oh.”

I lift the book from beneath my arm. “This is for you.”

Instead of handing it over normally, I hold it out the way someone might present flowers.

Kai blinks, then laughs. “What are you doing?”

“Romance.”

“With a book?”

“I know my audience.” He takes it carefully.

His eyes fall to the cover then widen. “No way.”

Success.

“You haven't read it?”

He looks up at me with obvious excitement. “I haven't.”

Relief floods through me so fast I nearly laugh. “I was worried.”

“I've somehow avoided this one.” He turns the book over in his hands, smiling to himself.

“Thank you.” The words come quietly. Sincerely. “I've wanted to read this forever.”

“I figured you could read it on the plane next week.”

He nods absentmindedly while already flipping through the first few pages.

“Unless…” He glances toward me. “I finish it tonight.”

I grin. “Well.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“I was hoping we'd both be a little too busy tonight for you to finish six hundred pages.”