“Thank you,”I reply, making sure I sound just sarcastic enough.
She motions vaguely around her own head. “Is your—like—headokay? What’s the deal with that thing?”
I frown. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“What?” She throws her hands up in defense. “You hit your head, so I’m just wondering if it’s still working. Like—did you forget anything? Or remember something weird? Or…”
“Ohhh.”I nod slowly, narrowing my eyes. “You’re just trying to find out if I remember you completelyfawning over mewith fantasy movie references.”
She scoffs, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “Nah, I’m just curious because you shattered the concrete floor with that wrecking ball of yours,” she teases, pointing to my head.
I gasp, covering it protectively. “I did not!”
She nods, dead serious. “You did.”
“No.”
“I’m telling you. They might make you pay for damages.”
I flip her off. “You’re obnoxious.”
“There’s like a twelve-inch crater out there.” She shrugs.
“… Wait. Really?”
She breaks into a shit-eating grin. “No. I’m fucking with you.”
I grab a pillow and launch it at her. “Asshole.”
She catches it, giggling brightly. “Yeah, but you like it.”
After that, the room goes silent, save for the soft whir of machines and the steady beep of my monitor. Except it’s not steady anymore. It’s climbing. Fast. And I pray Peyton doesn’t notice.
She doesn’t say anything right away, just watches me carefully, like she’s waiting to see if I’ll talk first.
“So… you do remember,” she says eventually, when I don’t.
I nod. “If I recall correctly, you said you’d ‘invent time for me.’”
Her face flushes. “Look, if you don’t want to talk about it—”
“I do,” I cut in breathlessly. It’s true. I want to talk about it more than I’ve ever wanted anything. “I’ve been wanting to talk about it for so long it’s just—” I sigh. “You said you’d invent time for me.” I pause, struggling to keep my breath even. “Well, I’ddestroy it.I’d break every clock. I’d smash every watch. I’d burn every calendar. I’d make sure time couldn’t touch us. I’d—”
I falter. My throat tightens.Jesus, how did she make this look so easy?
Heat rises in my cheeks, and I blow out a breath that matches the vibration of my hands.
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit, motioning awkwardly between us. “How to be with someone without constantly wondering if I’m too much. Or not enough. Without bracing for the moment it all unravels because I’m too broken, or boring, or sad. But I want to try. I want to try with you.”
Tears prick her eyes, and before I can say another word, she’s out of the chair, leaning in, crashing her lips against mine. It’s warm, and soft, and—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
“Shit, sorry,” she laughs, pulling back, her hands still gently cupping my cheeks. There’s color blooming in her face, but her eyes stay locked on mine.
“Don’t be,” I whisper, breathless. Then I pull her back in and kiss her all over again.
It’s slower this time. Steady and smooth.