Page 140 of As the World Falls

Mrs. Reynolds sucks in a breath, hugging her purse to her as she turns to Cecilia. “I want my cookies back.”

Cecilia presses her lips together to hold her laugh as she turns to her desk. I try to suppress my own as she grabs the box of cookies and hands them back to her. She snatches them from her and shoves them into her purse while taking a step closer to Cecilia and lowering her voice as she says, “I never thought you could do this to my Lance, but I guess you’re a little slut like the rest of the girls in the world.”

I drag Cecilia behind me now, stepping into Mrs. Reynolds's space and glaring down at her with the same venom she was exuding before turning to look at Lance. “You better get your mother before I really give you a reason to hate me.”

“Let's go, Mom,” Lance barks out. Thankfully, she listens and lets him push her out of the library.

I turn back to face Cecilia, who watches them go with a pained expression. “Are you okay?”

She continues to stare at them for a moment, then snaps out of it. “Yeah, I’m good. I just…I need a minute.” She flies past me then, barreling straight toward the women’s bathroom. I wait only one second before turning and following her in.

When I open the door, I see her hands braced on the sink. Her eyes meet mine in the mirror's reflection, and I see her tears fall. She quickly swipes them away. “I don’t know why I’m even crying,” she admits.

“Because you care about them.”

“I don’t know why anymore. They’ve been showing nothing but ugliness lately. Makes me wonder if this is who they’ve always been.”

“Well, I won’t argue that.”

She turns and faces me now. “I’m sorry for the things she said about you.”

I take her hands, kissing each one before dropping them again. “I don’t care about anyone’s opinion but yours.”

“How did I find someone who can handle all my drama?” she muses despite her plummeting mood.

“Your drama is nothing compared to mine, babe. Always remember that.”

She thinks on it for a moment, her smile perking up. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She kisses me, making me press her onto the counter and devour her, but she softly pushes against my chest, breaking our kiss and looking up at me with curious eyes. “Did you mean that? That thing you said about getting married?” she asks hesitantly.

“Every word of it,” I answer.

“I…like the idea of that,” she stammers as I lean in to kiss her jaw and neck.

I can’t help the desperate growl that comes from me after her confession. “When is your shift over?”

“In an hour,” she breathes out as my hand trails up her inner thigh.

“Why don’t you cut out early and let me take you home,” I suggest, letting my mouth roam her neck she’s exposing for me. “I’ll bake you cookies if you still want them.”

She laughs as her fingers tangle into my hair, pulling a groan from me. “Do you even know how to bake?”

“No, but if you want cookies, I’ll make it happen.”

“And more of this?” she asks, looking up at me with wide doe eyes.

“Lots more of this,” I promise.

“I think…that is definitely one way to cheer me up.” She takes hold of my wrist and drags me out of the bathroom with an enthusiastic smirk. I follow her out, thinking of all the ways I plan to make good on my promise.

Chapter Forty-One

Cecilia

I wake up, my body feeling blissfully sore. I wasn’t sure how I would even begin getting out of bed this morning, but the empty presence next to me had me shooting up, looking around the room for James. I relax when I see him sitting in the chair in the corner of the room. His stare focused on me. He was completely dressed in a black button-down and black pants, his hair combed back.

I exhaled, pushing my morning hair out of my face. “Were you watching me sleep?”

“What if I was?”

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