Page 213 of Goodbye Note

Pounding sounded on our door, startling us both.

He threw the blanket over me and got up. “Fan or something else?”

“Haven’t they been securing the whole floor because we’re sharing a room?”

“Then who the fuck has the audacity?”he said with a growl.

“Answer the fucking door. I know you’re awake. I have your journal on fucking alerts.” Kiernan yelled from the other side.

“Maybe we should flip the deadbolt and ignore them?” Arik put his hands together in a faux plea.

“What did you write? You didn’t answer when I asked.”

He tossed me his phone and went to open the door. I pulled my shorts on before reading what he wrote.

Things on my mind:

new tattoos

i think i might be in Love again

How your hair looks draped over my pillow

In all the ways you look at me

the little sounds you Make in your sleep

i’m scared to say it, but maybe this is what happiness feels like

I stared at his phone, getting warm all over. A weight lifted off my chest. I’d been waiting for him to realize what we were doing and pull back.

I left the sleeping area of our suite, which was blocked off by a screen decoration, with a massive smile on my face and found Arik sitting with Kiernan and John. Neither of them looked happy. I could only imagine it was about the post.

“This can’t be good.” I rubbed one eye with my palm, handing Arik his phone back.

“Want me to make you a coffee?” Arik asked, starting to get up.

“No, I’ll make it. You want one?” I didn’t offer our managers; I didn’t want them here.

“Sure, love.” He skimmed his fingers along the inside of my arm before I stepped away. I loved how much he touched me. “Can we help you since you so rudely interrupted our alone time?”

“We’ll wait until Varian is done,” John said.

I snickered to myself, turning the espresso maker on. It was one of the really nice ones that did everything for you. So I made two lattes and returned to sit next to Arik.

“Thank you, baby.” He put his hand on my thigh. His new little possessive gesture. “Go on.”

“We want to talk about your image and how we need to go forward with you two—” John began.

Arik held up a hand, cutting him off. “I’m going to stop you there. Respectfully, go fuck yourselves. We done? I’m going to finish this coffee, then go give my boyfriend head.”

“Boyfriend?” My chest filled with little bubbles of floating joy.

Arik glanced over. “Objections?”

“None from me.” My smile stretched until my scar hurt.

“Excellent. Since those are the only two opinions I care about, this meeting is over,” Arik said with finality.

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