Page 84 of A Temporary Forever

With my lips, I try to tell her what I can’t yet with my words. I kiss her so she knows I didn’t mean to ditch her. I had no intention of making her feel used or discarded. That I’m lost in her, and also lost in this arrangement.

Cupping the back of her neck, I pull her closer to me, trying to kiss away her worry, her anger, her indignation.

My worry. My panic. My distrust.

She moans into my lips. “Don’t fucking do that again. Just tell me you have a meeting. You don’t have to give me your schedule or whereabouts, but don’t drop me like a used toy again.”

I press my forehead to hers. “I promise.” And I mean it. I might not be ready to take her to my bed, but I never want to make her feel the way I did last night.

She snakes her arms around my shoulders and pulls me to her, crushing her lips against mine before asking, “How many panties are in that box?”

“Thirty.”

“Then rip off the pair I’m wearing. Now.”

“You don’t have to ask twice.” I turn her around and pin her against the railing, her back molding against my body. “And one more thing, black swan. We. Are. Fucking. Exclusive.”

Chapter 23

Celeste

Saar

I got a job for Lily.

Cora

Does it include handling anything breakable?

Me

Or anything edible?

Saar

No, don’t worry. I think she can manage this one.

Cora

I really hope so, I like her.

Me

You shouldn’t get too attached to your employees.

Cora

She is really, really nice.

Me

You still haveto let her go.

Caleb and I lie sprawled on the couch, neither of us in a hurry to move on with the day. It’s moments like these, or the seamless conversations we have been enjoying, that take root in my chest, spreading content, warm feelings I don’t want to dissect.

He pissed me off on Monday night, and I’m still not sure if I believe he had a meeting scheduled. It looked like a spur-of-the-moment decision.

All night, I wondered if he went to see another woman. Not that I had any right to wonder about that, but my mind took the idea for a spin like it was a shiny new car.

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