Page 408 of Talk Swoony to Me

“You were right,” he says.

“I was?”

“Yeah. It’s funny.”

My lips twitch. “It is!”

“I’m at the bit where, uh...” He pauses. “What’s-his-name lights her hair on fire.”

“Richard!” My smile deepens. “And that actually happened — to the author, I mean. That book is a little autobiographical. She met her husband speed-dating.”

“Oh, that’s cool.”

“Uh-huh.” I take a calming breath. “So, what’s your favorite book?” I ask.

The clicks and clacks cease for a moment.

“Why?”

“Well... you’re reading my favorite book,” I say. “And I thought that, maybe I should read yours.”

Oliver slides out from under the sink and sits forward. “Maybe,” he says as he looks up at me. “I’ll think about it.”

I peek behind him. “All fixed?” I ask.

He nods. “All fixed.”

“Really?”

“Yup.” He rises off the floor and stands tall over me with that cocky smirk. “See?” he teases. “I told you I could fix it.”

I look at the sink at the same time he does. His eyes squint slightly, no doubt flashing back to the same memory as I do at that very moment.

My legs wrap around his waist.

His hand balances on the mirror behind me.

He licks my clean, wet skin.

Oli,

please,

don’t stop?—

I shake it away again.

Dear god, please get me out of this bathroom.

The pipe bursts.

I jolt backward in surprise as cold water coats our shoes.

Uh… thanks?

Oliver dives under again, getting completely soaked as I take a step back. I try to think quickly, but I stall in place.

I have no idea what to do.

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