Page 105 of Jump on Three

“Yes. It probably would have been for the best. I suspect I’ll have to talk him off a ledge later.”

I tapped my chin like I was considering this. “Just let him come all over you. He’ll be fine.”

We were swept away in another fit of giggles. By the time we’d calmed down, we’d both forgotten why we were laughing in the first place.

Ivan sat across from me on my bed, his long legs folded in front of him. We were both tired from a swim meet this afternoon and had retreated to my room, where he’d convinced me to practice my Russian with him.

Now, he was angry with me.

“Are you certain you just started this year?” he demanded.

“Yes, I can show you the lessons I’ve completed.”

His brow furrowed. “No, I believe you, it’s just…I can’t believe your accent is so perfect and your grammar is better than mine. How is that possible?”

“Some people have an ear for music. Mine is for languages. I often catch myself mimicking the accents of people I’m speaking to. After a day hanging out with Bella, you would think I, too, was from Texas.”

He scrubbed his face hard then looked at me for a long moment. “It’s impressive, Evelyn. I don’t know anyone else who learns languages like you. My siblings and I all speak Russian and English, but that’s because our parents raised us bilingual.”

“That’s more than many parents give their children.”

“True.” He blew out a breath. “Your big, beautiful mind is sexy as hell. What will you do with it?”

My cheeks heated. Ivan had a way of complimenting that seemed exactly suited to me. If he’d told me I was pretty, I would have thanked him. Being told my mind was pretty was something else entirely.

So, I chose to ignore the compliment and answer his question instead.

“I think I would like to work as a translator or interpreter. Likely, I will major in communications along with one of my languages. Probably Russian since it’s currently my weakest.”

He nodded. “Yes. This will be good for you. I can see this.” He swiped a finger across my warm cheek. “Have you chosen your college?”

“Savage U. Delilah and I recently made the decision to go there. Our parents aren’t pleased with our choice, having preferred we come back to Europe. I don’t know why, though, other than having us closer would give them some modicum of control. The last time we visited them, they stuck around for a couple days then left so they could sail on their friends’ yacht. It isn’t as if they particularly want to spend time with us. Sticking around here makes sense. A place that’s familiar, that we like. Then, of course, there’s Rhys—”

In a flash, he scooped me up and placed me in his lap, his arms wrapped around me. His nose went to my hair, rubbing back and forth.

“You smell really good.”

“Shampoo,” I explained. “What did I say to deserve this snuggle attack?”

“While he was here, my father informed me I will be in LA after graduation, working with Marco. You deserve this snuggle attack because I now know you’ll be close by, and I’m thrilled.”

“You think you’ll want to see me then? Months and months in the future?” The thought that this wasn’t going to end when we graduated made my stomach do funny flips.

He took me by the shoulders, pushing me back to scowl at me. “Yes. I know I will. Do you think you won’t want to see me?”

“I can’t say for sure, but yes. I probably will. There aren’t many people I can stand to be around for as long as I can be around you.”

He sniffed, his eyes narrowing. “That does not fill me with confidence.”

“The thing is, I only really feel fully at ease with a few people. You are one of them. I’m relieved I no longer have to worry about what happens after graduation since you will be an easy drive from me. But mostly, I don’t want to spend time thinking about months and months from now when what’s happening right now is so perfectly good.”

“Perfectly good,” he murmured, dropping his forehead to mine. He rolled it back and forth, exhaling against my lips.

“I don’t want to waste time either. It’s been on my mind. If you’d told me you were moving to Europe, I’d have to find a way to transfer there.”

I shoved his chest, but only lightly. I did not want to move from this spot.

“We’re finished thinking about that, Ivan. Our time together is ahead of us. Don’t make it boring by dwelling on what-ifs, all right?”

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