Page 69 of Defended By Love

“Do you think I can start charging people to save their life?”

“If I save Hailey’s life, will she fall in love with me like Lois Lane?” DM mocks before abruptly going silent.

And rightfully so.

As much as everyone was glaring in our direction earlier, now everyone is pointedly looking away. You know, because Grant has been talking about me to his friends since who knows how long.

“You’ve been talking to them about me?” I ask in a whisper that everyone can definitely hear.

Grant runs a hand through his hair and smiles a hopeful, albeit nervous, smile. “Am I allowed to lie again yet?”

“How long have you been following me for?”

“The thing is, there isn’t really what you would call a truthful answer that wouldn’t scare you, since you seem opposed to the whole soulmates thing.”

“I am not your soulmate. That’s a ridiculous notion that only sets two people up to fail!” I hiss.

“Can we compromise on you being my Lois Lane?” he asks, still smiling. Seriously, how does he not know yet that I’m about two seconds away from losing my shit?

For my purported soulmate, he has a lousy read on me.

“First of all, Lois Lane is a ridiculous name. I hate how all the superheroes have those alliteration names. Besides, Lane is a dumb last name. Only someone who severely lacks creativity would think that would make a plausible last name.” There’s a chance that I’m just slightly bitter since I was continually teased during my childhood for having Cox as a last name. “But, secondly, they’re a terrible couple. She doesn’t even like the real him. She just likes the disguise. She likes the flashy, handsome superhero, probably because everyone else is fawning over him. She doesn’t like the geeky guy underneath. Even though he’s a really nice guy. She—”

I stop talking.

No, this is not going anywhere good.

Grant leans towards me, all clumsy smile and looming frame as he rests his arm on the back of my chair. I tremble when he enters my space.

With eyes like the warmest kind of smoke and a voice that sends chills down my spine, he says, “You think—”

“You know,” the DM cuts in. “A lot of people argue that Clark Kent is actually the disguise and Superman is his real identity.”

Darwin smacks his arm. “You see, this is exactly what I was talking about. You’re a terrible wingman.”

“Chanterelle?” the DM asks, looking imploringly at his girlfriend.

She just shrugs and shushes him. Finally getting it, they get up and leave, walking towards the kitchen. I guess to give us a semblance of privacy.

“You think Lois Lane sucks because she doesn’t like the dork in the glasses?” Grant asks.

Between the bickering, Grant’s somehow leaned even closer to me. The heat of him, the smell of him, the him of him, radiates towards me, enveloping me in a haze that makes it hard to think straight.

God, how does he have the effect on me?

“I didn’t say she sucked. I just think they make a terrible couple.”

“Because she doesn’t like the dorky part of him,” he prods, that smile still playing at his lips.

I bet if he were to kiss me right now, that smile would still be there. His hand trails up the side of my arm, whispering promises onto my skin and affirmations into my soul.

“Yes, because she doesn’t like the dork,” I finally admit.

“And you?” he asks, his hand making its way up my arm to the side of my neck. His hand is warm on my skin, yet somehow it makes me shiver all over. His fingers play in my hair, twirling my locks in a way that I somehow feel low in my belly.

“I like the dork,” I admit. “But that doesn’t mean I think we’re soulmates.”

“But it’s a start.”

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