Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I chuckle. “Yeah, I know.”
When I stand, Austin stands too. “Mind if I come with you?”
Of course I don’t mind.
I nod, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
“Oh, sure. Leave me here all alone!” Nova makes a half-hearted attempt at protesting. “It’s fine. I’ll just sit here and continue to be lonely.”
I chuck a pillow at her. “Drink some water.”
“Rude,” she mutters, catching the pillow and pulling it into her lap. “But fair.”
Austin steps over the remnants of snacks and empty glasses, slipping her hand into mine. The gesture sends a warmth through me I can’t ignore. I squeeze her hand lightly, grateful we’re leaving together.
When we’re back in the elevator, she leans into my side, her arms wrapping loosely around my waist. The faint scent of her shampoo lingers, and I resist the urge to rest my chin on top of her head. Instead, I keep my arm around her shoulders, holding her close.
“What about Gio?” I ask after a moment, my voice low in the quiet hum of the elevator. I might not love her dog—okay, fine, he’s kind of a menace—but I don’t want the poor little bastard stuck alone overnight.
She tilts her head up to look at me, a soft smile on her lips.
“He was out with the dog walker tonight—but thanks for asking. I’ll relay the message.”
“Thanks. I need all the help I can get.”
She grins, leaning up to press a quick kiss to my jawline. “It’s because you’re not handing over the treats fast enough. He’s a slut for snacks.”
22
austin
“What was the first thing going through your mind when I was shit talking you at Five Alarm that night you were sitting at the bar?”
I ask him from out of the dark, holding his hand in mine.
It’s pitch black, and we’ve been laying here in silence since we climbed into his bed, enjoying the kind of comfortable that settles in when you’ve said everything—but still want to be near each other.
I love this solitude.
And his sheets.
And his bed.
“I loved your sassy mouth,” he says softly. “And I thought you were so freaking gorgeous.”
I furrow my brow. “You thought I was gorgeous while I was insulting you?”
He is so strange, ha ha.
“Absolutely. You were fearless. A little terrifying, actually.”
“Terrifying?” I tease, nudging his ankle with my toe.
“Pretty, confident women are always a little intimidating, don’t you think?”
I smile into the blanket. “You’re so sweet.”
“Thanks.” He pauses. “You were exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for.”
I melt into the mattress. “Without prying, I really have to ask what all that nonsense was between you and Nova—the love at first sight stuff.”
Gio squeezes my hand. “I thought we agreed we were going to blame the wine for her blurting that out.”
“Don’t deflect. I want to know.”
“Fine. It wasn’t about you specifically.”
“I wasn’t thinking it was.” But that has me wondering…
“It wasn’t about you specifically tonight. But I’ve been thinking about it more since you came into my life.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I mean, I didn’t really believe in that kind of thing before. Love at first sight. Soulmates. All that Hallmark love stuff.”
“And now?”
“Now, I think maybe it’s not so impossible. You’ve got me reconsidering everything.”
Wow. I have no idea what to say.
I roll toward him, tucking a hand beneath my chin. “I had no idea what to say so I said I didn't believe in it. When she asked, I panicked. I didn’t want to sound naive.”
Silence.
“You sounded like someone who’s careful about who they let in. I respect that.”
“I don’t know if I believe in love at first sight,” I admit, voice barely above a whisper. “But I do know you gave me butterflies at Five Alarm—and when I saw you, I didn’t know it was you. I thought you were just some random, good-looking guy.”
“Random and good-looking,” he repeats, a teasing edge to his voice. “I’ll take it.”
I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at my lips. “You know what I mean.”
“So—we got the kid talk and the love at first sight talk out of the way. What are the other big ones we should throw out there now that we’re being all deep and honest?”
He can’t see my grin. “You mean like marriage? The zombie apocalypse?”
“Sure.”
“Marriage—yes, but I have to be sure. Zombies? Hard no. I’m not surviving anything if they’re faster than I am and where would I even run?”
He laughs, the sound low and warm in the quiet room. “Noted. I have to save both our asses.”
“Facts.” Pause. “What about you? Marriage…”
“Yeah, for sure. For the right person.”
My face gets even hotter, and I’m grateful he can’t see me blushing in the dark.
I can’t believe we’re discussing this stuff. I feel like such an adult!
“How do you even know when it’s the right person?”
“You just know,” he says simply. “At least, that’s what I’ve always heard.”