Page 95 of Wright Kind of Trouble

“Me too.”

She nudged me toward the side exit from Whitt’s backyard. “Go see him.”

“What? Mom, it’s my party.”

“And? You’re only half present. I know the look.”

I bit my lip. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll cover for you,” she insisted. “If anyone asks, I can gesture wildly about feminine hygiene products and blood.”

“Oh my God, Mom!”

She laughed and pushed me toward the door. “Go on. Get out of here.”

I kissed her cheek and did as she’d commanded. I texted Chase on the way out.

My mom did a jail break. Your place or mine?

Yours.

I smiled. He’d never been to my place. This year, Bailey and I had rented a house only a ten-minute walk from campus. It was tiny, and parking was shit, but it was worth it for the location.

When I got home, my eyes roamed the very small first floor, checking to make sure there wasn’t anything embarrassing still out. When I was satisfied, I did the same with my room. At least my bed was a very comfortable queen that I’d bought off of the previous owners. I had a feeling we were going to use it today.

Ten minutes later, a knock came on the door.

I opened it, and there he was. Still in the crisp navy-blue suit he’d worn to my graduation. But this time, he had a bouquet of black and wine-colored flowers in his grip. My mouth dropped at the display. My brothers and cousins had gotten me festive flowers that now filled my living room. Even my father had sent congratulatory pink roses—because he couldn’t know me less than to send pink roses.

But these...

These were so me. Dark and moody with a touch of Halloween and as black as my heart.

“Wow,” I breathed, taking them from him. “You did good.”

“They looked like you.”

“They’re amazing. I’ve never seen flowers like this.”

“I mean, they don’t do black hollyhock bouquets around here.”

My eyes lit up. “My favorite flower.”

“So purple that it’s almost black. Like a bruise.”

I was half ready to toss the entire bouquet and mount him properly for that answer. He must have seen it on my face because he smirked and drew me in for a kiss.

I melted into him. Mine. He was going to be mine. All mine. Finally. Finally fucking mine. That was the mantra my mind was playing over and over and over again as his tongue roved my mouth, and our lips moved against each other, and I felt all the tension evaporate from my body.

“I missed you,” I whispered.

He rested his forehead against mine. “So fucking much.”

“Let’s never do that again.”

“You’ve convinced me. Even when I tried to stay away from you, it was impossible.”

“I’m pretty irresistible,” I teased.

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