Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Shock wasn’t a strong enough word for what I was feeling. “You’ve forgiven him?”
He shrugged. “I dunno. I’m getting there.”
“Preston,” I said, trying not to gasp, “that’s huge.”
“Yeah, it is.” He nodded and gave me such a deep look, I felt the weight of it. “You played a big part in that.”
I put my hand to the center of my chest to keep his words from knocking me out. After everything, I still cared about him, and it meant so much that he’d taken this step.
“So, I’m gonna go now. I should probably tell you my dad’s downstairs with your mom, and the air was kind of frosty between them.”
I didn’t know which part to focus on first. “Your dad’s here?”
“We both wanted to see you. I got to go first.”
“Of course, you did.” I wasn’t sure if he’d know this time I meant it as a joke, or how he’d handle it, or if it was too soon. But I hoped one day we could go back to being friends, and we had to start somewhere.
The corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. “I hope you feel better soon.”
Did he mean it on more than one level? Because I already felt a lifetime better.
THIRTY-FIVE
MY MOUTH WENT DRY as the stairs groaned. Greg was about to walk into my room, and I had to look like garbage. I hadn’t showered since—oh, God—Thursday. I finger-combed my bedhead as fast as my wounds would allow, trying to look presentable.
Preston had left my door open when he’d gone, so there wasn’t a knock, only Greg’s voice from the hallway. “Cassidy?”
“In here.” Could he hear how tight my voice was?
He stepped into the room and was instantly greeted by Tripod. The dog’s outward excitement was mirrored inside me. Greg looked how he usually did. Dark jeans, fitted t-shirt, expensive watch on his wrist. His hair was styled as normal, his beard trim.
But he was more appealing than I’d ever seen him. The lines at the corners of his eyes were less pronounced. As he watched Tripod’s ridiculous fit of excitement at his feet, Greg was quick to smile.
“This dog is missing a leg,” he said.
“He is? I hadn’t noticed.”
As he looked at me, the connection between us was so strong, I worried I might melt. “And you want to be a vet,” he teased.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Everything was so different now.
His gaze drifted around my room, taking in the lavender paint I’d had on the walls since I was five. At least I’d gotten rid of most of the high school junk.
“Are you making house calls now?” I asked.
“I’m not here as your doctor.” His expression was coy. “How did your conversation go with Preston?”
I snagged my bottom lip between my teeth for a moment. “It . . . went.”
He mentally stumbled, probably expecting me to offer up more, but wires crossed in my brain. It was confusing having Greg in my bedroom. Preston had lifted the restraint on Greg and me, but I still felt it there between us.
Plus, I’d told him I was falling in love, so I needed him to make the next move.
One footstep was all he got before Polly lifted her head and hissed at the intruder.
“Your cat only has one eye.”
“Would you feel more comfortable if I put on her eye patch?” I said. “She doesn’t really like wearing it.”
My joke died as he approached, his shadow falling over me. All I could see was him. His tone was strong, yet soft. “I made you a promise yesterday.”
My heart rate climbed as I recalled his words. He swore it wouldn’t be the last time he touched me. But he’d also fulfilled this promise, hadn’t he? My mom said he’d held my hand. Was he going to remind me of that?
“Did you come to collect?”
He reached out, skimming his fingertips along my cheekbone, his voice as soft as his touch. “I did.”
The caress of his fingers sent sparks raining across my skin. His hand moved along my cheek, sliding gently into my hair, and tilted my head back. My eyes fluttered closed as he lowered in and sealed his mouth over mine.
The kiss was so passionate, I was surprised it didn’t blow the doors off the house. His lips moved against mine, swallowing the small cry I gave, and kept on delivering a nuclear kiss I didn’t even know existed until now. He shifted the angle, adjusting to taste me better, and I reached up, gripping his face between my palms. Did he notice my hands were shaking?
He lowered to sit beside me on the bed, deepening the kiss. Polly wasn’t having it. Her hiss this time was laced with malice, followed by her low, angry growl.
“What is that cat’s deal?” he asked between kisses.