Page 50 of The Good Girl

“I like how quiet it is here but it’s been weird not having my phone,”

“No signal out here,” I repeat what I told her the first time she asked about her phone.

“What did you tell Amity? There’s no way she wouldn’t freak out about me being out of contact for more than a few days.”

I tense, and she feels it. She lifts her head and looks at me.

“Our time here is up, Havoc. You might as well tell me. You said we were working on trust—no more lies. Not tonight.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Your phone’s in the trunk of your car, down the road.”

She blinks, and then starts laughing. “My car and phone have been there the whole time?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course they have. And is there really no signal here?”

“I mean… it’s kinda spotty.”

She groans and drops her head.

Taking a breath, I tell her the rest—I tell her about going through her phone, the messages I sent to Amity, pretending to be her, and lying about her being in Rome.

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Stay with me.”

She lifts her head back up, and this time, she looks sad.

“We can’t stay here forever. We need to go back.”

“No, I know. I mean, stay with me outside this place. Be mine, Nevaeh. Think of this as extreme dating if you want to.”

“I’m so mad at you right now. I want to scream at you and punch you and kick you and just… urgh.”

“I get it,” I tell her. I fucked up. I knew it the second I took her, but I just don’t regret it.

“The problem is, I’m not just angry anymore.”

I stroke her shoulder with my fingertips as she takes a deep breath. “You make me feel things I’ve only ever read about before. You cook for me, buy me books—which I do every day—and you watch chick flicks without complaining. You take care ofme, and other than Amity, I’m not sure I can remember the last time someone really did that.”

I slide my hand into her hair and pull her down until her lips are a breath from mine. “I dreamed about you when I was in prison. In my heart, I knew Lola and me were over before I ever found out about her and Driller. Aside from the fact she never came to visit, I was already half in love with you, and I wasn’t even sure if you were real or a figment of my imagination. Either way, you’re the reason I held on. I just didn’t know it then.”

“What do you mean you dreamed of me? I don’t understand.”

“I’m not sure I do either,” I admit. “I got this tattoo after waking up with the taste of you on my lips and the smell of vanilla cupcakes in the air. I thought I was imagining it. Then I got out, and there you were—in my bed.” I brush her hair from her face, letting my fingers linger. “I know this is all new and scary for you, but for me, it feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime.”

I kiss her softly, pouring everything I’m feeling into it before pulling back. “I need you to be mine because I’m already yours.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and she bites her lip. “I’m scared. I know you won’t physically hurt me, but…” She swallows hard, her voice trembling. “What about my heart?”

“I can’t promise I won’t upset you or make you mad, but I will always be careful with your heart.”

She groans, squeezing her eyes shut. “I’m going to regret this. I know I am.”

I freeze. “You’re saying yes?”

“I’m saying yes.”

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