“Yeah.”
“So, what’s the real reason?”
Scarlett glances out the side window before looking back to me and answering. “I hate the idea of all this amazing stuff not getting a second chance to be important. I hate the idea of it sitting in a storage unit or closet or garage—or even worse, in the dump. I don’t like living in a disposable world where we don’t value what we have. Each piece in here has a story, and that makes it special. I want other people to appreciate that too.”
The corners of my mouth tug my lips into a brief smile. “I think you’re doing a hell of a job, ladybug.”
“Chadwick thought it was stupid. He thought all of this was junk and that I should work for my dad.”
I close the distance between us as the light in her eyes fades with the memory of that fucking loser. I should have taught him a lesson Saturday night. He deserves to bleed for how he made her feel. But that doesn’t help me now.
“Chadwick clearly didn’t appreciate special. Otherwise, he’d still have you.” The words come out without thought, and as soon as I speak them, I know I’ve fucked up.
She leans against me, and I have no choice but to kiss her.
Just. One. More. Time.
Forty-Eight
Scarlett
Iwatch him walk down the sidewalk from between the lace curtains in the front room. I know firsthand how strong that muscled body of his is now. I’ve felt the hardness against me. I’ve heard him laugh. I’ve seen him smile. I’ve tasted his lips.
And I want more.
That’s the only thing I’m completely certain about right now.
More Gabriel Legend is the only cure for whatever is happening to me. My skin heats when he’s near, and I can’t hold still. I want to touch him, strip off his shirt, run my hands over his bare skin ...
He fires up the truck and glances toward Curated once more. I wave from the window, not caring that he can see me watching him. He lifts his chin and pulls away from the curb, leaving me staring at taillights that disappear a moment later.
I wrap my arms around myself and smilebig.
“He calls me ladybug,” I whisper to the empty room. “And I really, really love that.”
I wander upstairs and unlock my apartment. I wanted to show him this too, but ... a tiny bit of apprehension kept me from doing it.
“What the hell am I doing? Am I really doing this?” When no one answers my question, I grab my phone and call Kelsey. Thankfully, she answers on the third ring.
“Hey, babe, I’m just walking out of my last appointment of the day. You need me to head your way? I didn’t have you on my calendar for tonight.”
“I kissed Gabriel Legend.” I blurt it out without preamble.
“What? Hold on, let me get out of this building. My service is acting weird, because I could swear you just said—”
“I kissed Gabriel Legend.Threetimes.”
“Ho-ly shit. No way! Where? When?” Kelsey’s screeching nearly deafens me.
“Today. This afternoon. We hung out. We drove go-karts. And I kissed him, and then he dragged me out of the go-kart place and kissed me against his truck and then again in Curated’s kitchen. Oh my God, Kels. It was ... Jesus. The man is a kissing savant. My knees could barely handle it.”
“I don’t know what to say. For the first time ever, I think I’m totally speechless,” she says, this time sounding dumbfounded.
“I know. I don’t know how it happened, but it was amazing. No. Awesome. He’s ... he’s ... I like him, Kelsey.Like, likehim.A lot. I think ... I’m falling for him.”
“Oh fuck. I’ll be right over. Don’t leave your place. I’ll bring food. And wine. Give me forty-five minutes.” Kelsey hangs up, and I stare down at my phone.
Oh fuck?