Page 86 of Quiet Beautiful Things

Reaching in, I swirl my hand around as if picking the next tribute inThe Hunger Gamesand pull one out. I open it.

Your heart knows the right answer.

I stare at it long and hard, because…damn. Then I almost throw it out, knowing Ellie’s aversion to fortunes. Instead, I decide to leave it right where it is. Because maybe it’s something Ellie needs to read too.

Chapter Thirty-one

31

Ellie

Blake comes back to bed, his nakedness silhouetted by the light from the living room. He puts a glass of water on my nightstand and hands me my phone. I look down at it.

Blake: Can we text now please? You’ve worn me out, woman. Between signing all night and working your delectable body with my fingers, I’m not sure my hands will be good for anything more than texting for a while.

It’s hard to argue with that, so I don’t. I smile and nod. He crawls back into bed as if it’s his own. And I’m not quite sure how I feel about the warm, fuzzy feeling that brings to me. I watch him in the dim light as he closes his eyes and sets his phone on his chest. He looks… peaceful.

Maybe that’s becausehishead isn’t spinning out of control with warning signals. Maybe it’s becauseheknows that whatever this is has an expiration date. Because all of his—affairs? Conquests? Flings?—do. Or maybe it’s just because he’s accepted that he isn’t capable of more.

More.

Now I’m back to the warm fuzzy feeling of him lying next to me, one foot most definitelynotout the door.

Even if more with Blake was an option, deep down I know it couldn’t happen.

It could if you let it.

I close my eyes and lie back, a war going on in my head like I’m in one of those cartoons with an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.

Warm lips kiss my neck. My eyes fly open. Blake is looking right at me.

I furrow my brow.

He traces the side of my jaw with his finger. “You’re beautiful.”

My insides melt. The angel—or maybe it’s the devil—crosses his arms and gives me a disapproving stare.

Blake: Now that we can talk, I wanted to ask you something I was curious about earlier. You haven’t said anything about going to Lucas’s wedding. Not since the day Lissa invited you. You’re going, right?

Me: I shouldn’t. I know she misread the situation.

Blake: You don’t want to be my date?

Me: Aren’t you the best man?

Blake: One of them, yeah. Doesn’t mean I can’t have a date. Come on, it’ll be fun. You can meet Dallas. And if you want, you can join in on the pool.

I narrow my eyes.

Blake: Don’t tell me you haven’t heard rumors about him.

After I shrug, he goes on to explain how Lucas has left several women at the altar and another one only weeks before.Apparently the entire town is betting on whether or not he’ll go through with it.

I shake my head disapprovingly and tap out a text.

Me: I’m not going to bet money on whether or not he breaks Lissa’s heart.

Blake: El, are you a romantic?

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