Page 54 of Spelling Disaster

Instead, Theo stays a complete gentleman. We talk about everything and nothing, his stupid jokes making me laugh time and again.

Right before we leave, he packs up the picnic and walks me past a fountain. The gently bubbling water is a balm to the soul.

“I had fun today, you know,” he says. “Do you want to make a wish? I’ve got a couple of coins on me. I think I can manage a wish for both of us.”

“What can I possibly wish for?” I ask with a laugh.

“Whatever you want.” He digs a coin out of his pocket and holds it out to me.

I flip the piece of silver between my fingers, the metal catching the last hints of light. Lights have begun to glow along the path. Whatever I want…it seems like a stretch. Nothing in my life so far has been about what I want, and being here with him is a dream come to life. Which leaves me doubting everything.

I wish…

Closing my eyes, I form the wish in my head. The coin practically leaps from my hands and plunks into the fountain. When it disappears underneath the water, a weight lifts off my chest. Despite everything, for the first time in years, I find myself excited, not afraid.

“Good job.”

Theo takes me in his arms, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me toward him. “Do you want to know whatIwished for?”

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to hear it. Or strong enough to hope it will come true if you tell me,” I whisper.

“Let me show you.”

No, I’m not afraid of anything, not even when Theo lowers his mouth to my lips and kisses a corner. Then the other. He’s patient and gentle while he judges my reaction, his hands just as soft on my spine. They trail down to my hips, up to my ribs, then settle once again around my waist as he waits for me to be sure.

I’m beyond sure.

I lift my hands to frame his face and smile, just before he dips down to kiss me for real.

I open for him and every part of my body and my magic sings at the contact. How strong he feels to touch and the first small groan when I dart my tongue out to tangle with his own.

He takes the kiss deeper at my small request and his hips grind against mine until heat scorches through me.

Making my body his.

His touch has me panting, wanting, trembling. How can I not when Theo has my name on his lips like a prayer? He touches me and tastes me andhis skin is sun-warmed silk over stone. I want more. I want the kiss to last forever.

Pretendjust went out of the window.

ChapterEighteen

The kiss leaves me reeling and forgetting my own name.

It comes back to me in small pieces once Theo takes a step in the opposite direction but the breathing room isn’t enough to get me back to center. Not when I’m off in the clouds with my lips tingling and the rest of me on fire. His fingers linger on my cheek, his eyes dark and serious and vulnerable.

Whatever he sees on my face, he smiles.

The smile undoes the last of my reservation.

This isn’t pretend.

For some reason, some unfathomable reason, Theodoeslike me. He likes me enough to throw me a sunset picnic, and kiss me, and ask about my day. To actually care about the answer. I get the feeling he wished for me the same way I wished for him.

It’s impossible. It’s magic.

I ride a wave of exhilaration all the way back to campus. Theo walks me to my dorm and I cling to him. Neither one of us seems to mind and I’m not chasing shadows this time.

I’m floating and falling at the same time. I’ve never felt this way and part of me wonders if this is infatuation or if this is the end, and I’ll never feel this about anyone else again.

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