Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
His eyes sparkle as he peers into mine. “There’s only one part of today that I’ll always remember as a mistake.”
“Which one?”
“The moment I didn’t kiss you.”
I don’t know where the courage comes from, or if the years of Gianna’s stories have sunk in, but I find an ounce of bravery and use it.
“You could fix that, you know,” I say, sounding far more confident than I really am. Because, on the inside, my brain is screaming that this is a bad idea. You don’t do vulnerable, Astrid. There’s a reason you’re cautious. Hell, you’re here because you were vulnerable with the wrong man—Trace. But my body? It’s entirely on board. Gray has shown enough kindness and protectiveness today to sway it to the dark side.
I’m always so controlled, so particular that I don’t have fun, and consequently, I never truly enjoy myself. If I’m going to dive into the fun puddle, what better way than to do it here? With him?
Gianna will be so proud.
We stop swaying to the music, and every voice, body, and sound fades into the background. At this moment, only two people exist: Gray and me.
He releases me from his grasp. But, before any distance is put between us, he cups my cheeks with both palms and studies me with a soft intensity that makes me whimper.
A fire blazes in my core, spilling out and flooding my veins with piercing-hot flames. I lick my lips as my hands find his waist, and I feel his carved obliques. I could overthink this. I could find a million reasons to stop this in its tracks and walk away with my head held high.
But I don’t want to. I really don’t want to, and for once in my life, I’m just going to do what feels good. If it hurts later, hopefully the ecstasy was worth it.
His hardened cock presses against my stomach. I hold my breath, awaiting his next move. His grin is salacious, and I choke back a moan.
“Fuck it,” he whispers, dipping his lips to mine.
Yes!
I lift on my toes to meet him in the middle, when I’m bumped from the side. Oof.
“Sorry about that,” Brooks says, but I can tell he’s not sorry at all.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Gray says through gritted teeth. He takes my hand and laces our fingers together.
Blood pours past my eardrums as adrenaline washes through me. I’m too worked up to fully understand what just happened, but I’m annoyed enough to attempt to fight Brooks myself.
“Let’s go, Astrid,” Gray says, tugging my hand.
Brooks leans toward me as I’m being led away. “Steakhouses are good choices for the gift card.”
I roll my eyes and turn, trying to keep up with Gray.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Gray
“So do you still think Brooks has main-character energy?” Astrid asks. “Because I’m starting to think it might be main-villain energy.”
I sling open the passenger’s side door of my truck with a bit more force than necessary. “Yes. Main character. But he’s the main character who wants to die in this chapter.”
She bursts out laughing as she climbs into the cab and gets settled. I swing the door shut and move around the front to the driver’s side.
I almost kissed Astrid Lawsen. Fuck.
Her soft cheeks were in my hands. Her gorgeous body was pressed close to mine. I’ve never seen a set of eyes that were so clearly saying yes. And then Brooks had to act like he was twelve years old. What the actual fuck?
This is the first exchange we’ve shared since I led her away from the bandstand. My emotions were running high, and I didn’t want to fuck up and inadvertently snap at her. So I chose to say nothing at all—at least until I could talk myself off the ledge.
I don’t know what the hell Brooks was up to tonight. He wasn’t being malicious; there’s no chance of that. But whatever sideways thing that sprang to life inside his head was born from a brain that’s been punched too many times.
My hands ball into fists at my side as I slow my pace and take a long, deep breath.
I also don’t know where Astrid and I go from here. I’m not even sure where she wants to go from this point. Desires and intentions have been put into the universe, and now they must be dealt with. But it’s not like Astrid is just another girl who I nearly kissed. It’s her. She’s my coworker and practically my boss.
Although I’d never admit that thought to her.
I climb into my seat and start the engine. Stretching my arm along the back of her seat and getting a whiff of her perfume in the process, I back out into the street. She sits quietly, not saying a word until I put the truck in drive.
“Is this a good time to bring up the fact that we brought Hartley?” she asks.