Page 22 of Unravel Me

“Hi, Sawyer.”

“I’ve missed you, Iv. So much,” he whispers as he snuggles his face into my neck.

“You just saw me this morning, dork.”

“Don’t you know by now that even a minute without you is too long?”

“Mmhm. I missed you too, you know.”

“I know, baby.”

His eyes flicker back and forth between my lips and eyes as one of his hands presses into my waist, pushing me flush against the cold brick wall. Goosebumps break out over my body.

“Can I kiss you now?”

I nod my reply as his lips crash down on mine a split second later.

It goes from zero to sixty in hardly a moment. It’s always been this way between us. This tether exists that keeps us connected. His touch lights me up like fire. I couldn’t fight it if I tried.

His hand roams my waist until his fingertips meet my skin. He slides them under my shirt confidently, knowing I won’t push him away. His fingers tug gently on my navel ring before slipping around to my lower back, holding me close. His tongue meets mine in a tangle as we pull at each other to get closer, my hands grabbing fistfuls of his shirt, holding him hostage, never wanting this to end. I could do this forever and it would be all I need to make me happy for the rest of my life. I need him like I need air, like nothing else matters. I feel it in the depths of my bones. Our makeout session slows until our lips break apart. Sawyer continues to lean against my small frame and rests his forehead on mine.

“I love you, Ivy, don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t. I love you too.”

Needing to clear my mind, I do the same thing I’ve done the majority of my life when the pressure gets to be too heavy. I change into a pair of running leggings, throw on my favorite sweatshirt, pull on my hat, and lace up my shoes. Here’s to hoping no one recognizes me.

I head outside as dark clouds move across the sky and block the sun’s warm rays. I take a deep breath of fresh air and risk a glance over at Reid’s house. He’s jogging down the path in gym shorts and an athletic shirt that clings to his ripped body like a second skin, carrying a sweatshirt in his hand.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Turns out luck really isn’t on my fucking side lately. Did I kill a fairy?

Maybe I should burn some sage.

Hire a priest.

Toss some salt over my shoulder.

Buy some crystals.

I clearly need to get straight with the universe, ’cause she is continuing to bring her wrath to my doorstep.

“Really?” I dramatically ask the sky.

“I was thinking the same thing,” his gruff voice grates on me.

“I see your body looks exactly as I expected it to, Drogo. Jesus. I need to know, you were made in a lab right?” I motion my hand up and down his body.

“What?” His eyebrows arch in question.

“Never mind. You’re a runner?”

“Yup. Stress reliever.”

“Ugh. Annoying. Same.”

“Well, we can go our separate ways here or we can both be adults and just go for a run. I can go at a slower pace if you want to run together.”

I can’t tell if he’s just trying to rile me up or if he’s being serious. I’m going to go with the latter.

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