Page 539 of Dark Love

“But you don’t believe it.”

The question isn’t if I believe it. “I’m in love with Vex, and I won’t allow you to speak badly of him in my presence.”

“That’s something I would never do. I brought you in here to reassure you that Vex isn’t the man the world believes him to be.”

The shift in conversation is hard to follow. “How do you know that?”

“I ran The Nest, a shelter, in Urbium for years.”

He ran a shelter? Colin Knight, sexy author and angsty man, ran a shelter? There’s astory there.

“Vex would bring us women that needed help.”

“Women that he rescued,” the words just slip out.

“They never gave us details except to say Vex saved their lives.”

I knew it. I knew he was a hero and not a villain. No man could be as gentle and kind as he is and be the monster people think he is.

***

The apartment is finally quiet, but it won’t be for long since Piper is going to be here early for her date. I should go to sleep, but my body won’t settle in this giant empty bed. I should have brought Vex.

So the girls could dissect him?

Next year they can do all of that.

This is ridiculous. I push up in the bed and flick the bedside light on. It shines right on the teddy bear Vex sent. Why not hug it?

Maneuvering the massive stuffed animal into the bed is no small feat. If Vex could see me now—

Why can’t Vex see me? I pull out my phone.

Am I really doing this? Taking a picture while I’m in my pajamas like a wanton woman.

Really, why am I psyching myself out? Vex won’t see anything but the teddy bear's arms and my head. It’s not like I’m even immodest. These pajamas cover me from my neck to my ankles.

Don’t let what happened years ago make you get stuck all in your head. This picture is completely innocuous.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I snap a picture of myself in the bear’s arms and send it to Vex

Me: Miss your arms around me. But the bear is super cuddly.

Vex: He’s bigger than you are.

See, Vex didn’t say anything weird.

Me: LOL. You had to see me wrestling him into the bed. But I won.

Vex: I’m pretty sure the bear won. He has you wrapped in his arms. Right where I wish I was.

Not crying. Totally not crying.

Me: How was your day?

Vex: Terrible without you.

Me: The girls would have tormented you endlessly.

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