Page 55 of Forbidden Lessons

Like truly, widely,warmlysmiles. That’s when I know I’ve fallen so far down this fucking rabbit hole, the only way I’m getting out is if someone tosses down a ladder.

But apparently those are bad luck, so…

“I do make a mean cup of hot cocoa, though.”

We’re both adults here.

I could murder a cocoa and mount the cup on my car’s dash.

“Mini marshmallows?”

Bastian tilts his head, his smile changing into a smirk. “Only one way to find out.”

We both turn at the sound of thunder rumbling in the far distance.

Both turn back to each other.

“Forget it. Zeus has spoken. I’ll be back in a sec.” Bastian leans back, tapping the rim of the window. I watch him until he’s almost at the black slab of his front door.

I throw open my door and yell, “I can drink really fast!”

Bastian spins around, shaking his head. “I strongly suggest you don’t add that to your LinkedIn.” Then he flicks a hand. “Well? Get in here.”

Chapter 17

Haven

There are these special moments in my life, little vignettes, that I drink in and save like a mental snapshot. So I can savor it later, or wallow a bit. Bastian made it sound like I don’t cling to the past, but he’s wrong.

The further I look back, the harder I push forward.

But that’s my secret.

No one else needs to know how fucking desperate I am to succeed.

That I think about it night and day.

That I’ve done things—willcontinuedoing things—I’m not proud of to keep this fucking ball rolling.

Rolling stones gather no moss.

And wrecking balls gotta have a ton of momentum.

I’m still not sure what kind of snapshot I’m taking right now. Whether I’ll pore over it and smile, or glare at it when I’m in a spiteful mood.

Breathing the air inside Bastian’s home makes me feel more alive than I have in a while. Painfully, achingly so. Is this what taking drugs feels like? Every sense set to max.

But with clarity, comes, well,clarity.

I feel dirty. Poor. Dumb. So out of my depth I’m in desperate need of scuba gear or I’ll drown.

And he notices.

Of course he notices. He’s ProfessorRooke. He notices everything.

And I’ve just entered his domain.

As much as this house belongs to Professor Rooke, I’m seeing strong evidence of someone else.

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