Page 65 of Hello Kitten

“Sure is.”

I listen closely to every word that drops from his lips. Every story about his life and the bonds he has with his family.

This side of him, this part he’s finally showing me draws me closer. So close I’m scared that I won’t be able to rip myself free. But then I feel it, that soft stammer of my heart, that soft flutter in my stomach.

I don’t want to be free of him, I want more of him.

“Emily?”

“Yes?” I ask, peeking up at him.

“Don’t scare me like that again, please.” His voice breaks, and I gaze up at him. His green eyes stare down at me, soft and broken.

I hate that I hurt him, I never meant to do that. “I won’t, I promise,” I whisper as his fingers graze up to my hair, gently running them through.

He sighs in relief and reaches for one of the books on the coffee table and pets his lap. I smile, scooting down, and rest my head on his lap.

I swallow, watching his face, his lips, as he starts to read to me, effortlessly bringing life to the story as I drown in the sound of his voice and the soft strokes of his fingers.

Page after page as this warmth spreads inside me.

I rub his knee and he glances down at me. “Are you hungry, baby?”

“Yes,” I answer softly.

He nods and closes the book.

“Don’t stop reading. I like it,” I whisper.

He smiles and sets the book down, but continues telling the story, his low voice perfect, easy. I smile, melting into his velvety words. At the same time, he starts typing on his phone.

After a bit, I lift my head and look at what he’s doing. Ordering burgers for us. I snuggle closer, brushing my fingers over his chest, then down his hip to where the scorpion is half hidden by his boxers.

Adrian turns and kisses me, like we’ve done it a hundred times. I open my mouth to ask if he thinks we’ll be together when my birthday comes next semester, but that question feels too hard, too intense considering we just agreed we’re doing more than sex.

“Is this a date, Adrian?” I mumble.

“Yes. So was last weekend,” he answers as if it’s obvious. “We’re dating, Emily. I won’t get in trouble and neither will you. Isn’t it obvious since Beth didn’t pick up on it when I was texting her?”

“People still can’t see us though,” I murmur. “We’re still a secret.”

“For now,” he says ominously.

My forehead creases and he picks up the book. “You told me you wanted to work in publishing, but is that all?” he asks, and I swallow.

He shared so much, so now it’s my time.

“My parents never supported my love for books,” I start, mustering the courage to come clean. “I would love to work in publishing, but I want to try something else too.”

“Like?” he asks, urging me on as I stare at the fake flames.

“Writing, I would love to write, share my mind with others, my imagination.” I sigh, relieved to have said it. Not even Beth knows this.

“I think you’ll be great at it,” he says so easily.

“You do?”

He shrugs. “Every paper, every assignment, you have me hooked from the first sentence. You have this way with words, this flow to your story. I can’t wait to read what you write next.”

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