Page 70 of When You Left Me Speechless

“I do. I’m a big rom-com fan. I used to watch them with my mom.”

My heart squeezes. “Okay, so what do you think it means about me?” My eyes squint, daring him to continue.

“Definitely a serial killer.”

“Stop it,” I yell, slapping his arm. He chuckles. He studies me with his eyes for a few seconds longer. “If I had to guess, you’re a hopeless romantic, and you never learned that talking to strangers on the internet is incredibly unsafe.”

I swat at him again, but this time, he catches my wrist and pulls me in for a kiss. His lips meet mine, and I’m consumedby the taste of his tongue. I grab the smooth fabric of his shirt, desperate for the kiss to continue. For it to lead to something more. He slowly pulls away. “We gotta get through your deck,” he reminds me. I nod, disappointed and not wanting to agree. He goes back to asking me questions.

“Sunrises or sunsets?” I ask him after we get through another set of notecards.

“Sunrises. You?”

“Definitely sunsets. I love how you get the beauty of the sun painting the sky in different colors, and then it is followed by the beauty of all the stars.”

The rest of the afternoon continues like this. I learn his favorite color is blue and he learns mine is pink. His favorite candy is chocolate, and he reminds me he already knows I prefer sour candy.

These moments behind the safety of my bedroom door are a dream. Knowing no one can catch us helps me to relax. He makes me feel like being serious with him might be possible, but I don’t let my mind linger on that thought for too long.

CHAPTER 44: DO NOT DISTURB

POPPY

Logan has come over every night for the past three nights. On Sunday, I texted him after leaving lunch with my family.

On Monday, I texted him for no good reason other than I wanted to see him. I, of course, used some excuse about being stressed, but the truth is I want to spend time with him.

I didn’t ask him to come over tonight because I didn’t think it was a good idea. I decided we, mostly me, needed a solid reminder this is not anything more than sex. Don’t get me wrong, I want to text him. I’ve quickly become addicted to the way his body feels pressed up against mine, but I have goals I need to achieve, and this can’t turn into anything serious right now. A real part of me is realizing if I let him into my bed every night, I won’t want him to leave, and that scares the shit out of me.

I take a quick shower and throw on my comfiest pajamas. They aren’t flattering in the least, but that doesn’t matter because I am home alone tonight, and Logan is definitely not coming over. I set my phone todo not disturband sit at my desk.

According to my calendar, I need to do a practice test tonight, and I’m dreading it. They usually take me a couple of hours to complete, and it’s already 6:00 p.m. I know I’ll need to eat at some point, but I’m not hungry right now, and I just want to get it over with.

I turn on some music in the background and get to work. With every question, my confidence is boosted a bit because it feels like I know a lot more than I thought I would. I’m staring at a question, trying to decide if the answer is A or B, when a loud knock at the door makes me jump so high I almost flip my chair.

Every rational thought leaves my body. I know it’s not Lacey, and I’m not expecting anyone, so logically, it has to be a murderer coming to kill me because all murderers knock before they kill you, right?

I search my room for something to defend myself with. I remember I put a pair of scissors in my bedside drawer the other day, so I pull it open and shuffle the contents around. Another loud knock echoes through my apartment, causing me to grab the first thing I see. My vibrator.

I run to the door and peer through the peephole to find Logan standing outside holding a large brown paper bag.Shit.

I glance in the mirror by our front door and attempt to make my wet hair look more attractive, but it’s useless. I glance down at what I’m wearing, and I consider changing, but he knocks again.

I swing the door open.

“Did you finish your practice test?” His eyes dart down to my hand and then back up to meet my eyes.

“What? No, actually you are interrupting me. I’m halfway done. Why?”

“Figured you were done, although I wish you would have texted me.” He looks down at my hand again and gestures at the vibrator.

“Oh no, Lacey is out, and I’m by myself. Figured if you were a murderer I needed something to defend myself with.” I pretend like I’m going to hit him over the head with it and quickly realize how silly I must look.

He laughs, “I’ll be sure to warn all the murderers that you're packing a vibrator.”

My cheeks blush with embarrassment. I quickly move my arm so the vibrator is now behind my back. “So, what are you doing here? I didn’t text you.”

“Well, according to your calendar, you’re taking a practice test tonight, so I thought I’d come make you dinner while you work on it.” He gestures to the brown paper bag I now realize is full of groceries. He pulls out an eggplant and wiggles it in the air. “Hungry?” A sexy grin breaks out across his face.

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