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“And you’re still busy?”
“Very.”
“Were you working tonight when you saw me?”
“Early stages.”
“How did you decide you were actually gonna kill people?”
“I got restless behind the computer and went out on a few jobs with the guys. One night things got sticky and someone pulled a gun on my brother. I didn’t even hesitate. I just pulled my gun, walked out of the shadows, and shot the dude in the head. I realized at that point that it didn’t bother me to do what had to be done. From there, I started taking hit jobs too.” I shrug. “I didn’t really decide. Life decided for me.”
Blush nods then stands, pacing a small circle in front of me. “No one knows me. Not really. You know more than anyone on the planet.”
My chest tightens. There’s more I could tell him, but I just can’t get the words to come.
“I’m honored.”
“Don’t be. I only told you because you caught me. I wanted to die with this secret.”
“Nah, you didn’t have to tell me everything. You could’ve shut me out but you didn’t.”
He rolls his eyes. “Ugh. What are we doing, Whisper? This is supposed to be nothing but fun. Quick, dirty sex. That’s all I wanted.”
“Same, but here we are.”
“And? What now?”
“That’s up to us, isn’t it? Come here.”
For a moment, he looks like he might refuse, but then he drops his shoulders and walks back to me, standing between my legs and draping his arms over my shoulders.
“I like you, Blush. More than I expected. Definitely more than I wanted to. I’m not into romance and relationships. I don’t know if I ever could be, but I do know that I want more of you. What I need to know is where you’re at.”
“You’re here, right?”
“Don’t be bratty. Say the words.”
He pouts, popping his bottom lip and bouncing on his toes. “But I like being bratty.”
“I know you do, sweet, but just this once, tell me how you feel. Tell me what you want so I can try to give it to you.”
Blush searches my eyes for a few seconds before saying words I never expected. “I like who I am around you.”
“That’s good.”
“So I guess… we could…” He shrugs. “Hang out some more.”
“Because?”
“I just told you.”
“You haven’t told me how you feel.”
He huffs. “God, you’re mean sometimes. You’re lucky I’m respectful or I’d drop the D word right now.”
Smiling, I pull him a little closer. “Noted.”
Blush seems to melt in my arms as I feel all his resistance slip away. “I like you too.”
