Page 34 of Fragments of You

“I know. Honestly, you’d be doing me a favor anyway. I really need to get out of the house more.”

“I guess I could use the help,” I admit.

“Then it’s settled.”

“Let me go grab my wallet,” I tell her, quickly entering the house.

Chapter Nine

Paisley

“WE ARE NOT GETTING that.” I laugh at Felix, who’s holding up the craziest piece of fruit I think I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Why not? Look how cool the spikes are.”

“Absolutely not.” I shake my head dramatically.

“You’re no fun,” he teases.

“That’s not what you were saying earlier.” I give him a knowing smirk, not the least bit surprised when he abandons the fruit for my hand, pulling me into his arms despite the fact that we’re in the middle of a grocery store.

“I still don’t know what came over you. I can’t say I’ve ever seen you so ravenous.”

Guilt pings around in my chest like it’s playing a game of pinball in there.

After Nash, the way he showed up outside my work, the way he looked at me, the things he said, I felt desperate to feel anything outside of the uncertainty he had stirred inside of me.

I’m not proud that I sought Felix out as a distraction. In fact, I feel so horrified by it that I’ve been sick to my stomach ever since, though I’m doing my absolute best not to let it show. If he knew the thoughts that were going through my head when Nash pinned me against the car, he’d be heartbroken. Then, add on the fact that I practically jumped his bones when I got to his house, Nash still heavy on my mind—it’s unspeakable.

But I keep reminding myself that it’s better than giving in to Nash, not that I wanted to or anything...

The lie is so easy to tell, I almost believe it.

No.

I love Felix. I intend to marry Felix. My body—the traitorous demon—is just having a hard time accepting that Nash is now the enemy. It’s like my brain and body are at odds now, each pulling in opposite directions, making me feel like I’m at risk of being ripped straight in half.

“Are you complaining?” I have to lean back slightly to look up at him.

“Me? Never.” He dips down, laying a kiss to my mouth.

“Felix,” I murmur against his lips. “We’re at the store.”

“And...” He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze.

“And I don’t feel like putting on a show.”

“I don’t care.” He moves to kiss me again, but I stop him with a firm hand to his chest.

“No, but I do. There is a long list of people I would not want to see me with my boyfriend’s tongue down my mouth.”

“Like Nash?” His hold on me disappears in an instant.

“What?” My stomach coils.

“You’ve never cared if I kissed you in public before.”

“And I don’t care now. I just think maybe the grocery store isn’t the time or place. There are children here.”

---