Page 124 of Brutal Kingdom

“Only because we can’t be seen in public together. But there’s no one in here but us.”

He pulls me into his arms, kissing my neck and my ears, as he pushes me towards the table. He drags his hand down the front of my dress to my legs, pushing the hem higher, giving me room to spread my legs as he steps between them.

“Jordy.” He sighs my name, before kissing me again. My eyes flutter closed. I’m swept away by the brush of his mouth, his soft caresses.

He ends the kiss, staring down at me so intently my chest hurts. He reaches up, using his thumb to brush a tear away. “What’s wrong?”

I hadn’t even realized I was crying. “Nothing.”

“You’re crying. That’s not nothing.” He presses his forehead to mine. “Talk to me.”

“I’m scared.”

“Of your court case?”

“Of this. Of being here. Emotionally. With you again.” He pulls back, staring into my eyes. I hold his gaze steady. “This is exactly how it felt the first time. And the last time. I don’t wanna put myself through what comes next, again.”

“No. Jordy. Those endings. That’s the past. It’s not happening again. We’re not breaking up again.”

“Yes, we are. We already did, before we ever really got back together.”

“We are together. I know it doesn’t look the way we might want it to, but we’re a couple, and as soon as your case is over, we’ll go public.”

“That could take years, Logan. We’ll both be in different places by then.”

He steps away from me, brows scrunched together. “What do you mean, different places?”

“Maybe we should have this conversation when you’re sober.”

“I’m sober enough. Now explain what you’re talking about.”

I climb off the desk, smoothing my hands down my dress. “I’ll be in New York for grad school, or just finishing up, and working for Tony.”

“We said we’re staying here for grad school and moving in together.”

“That was last year. A lot has changed since then.”

“You wanna leave me?”

Stepping closer, I kiss his cheek and say, “I wanna leave this shitty town.”

FORTY-EIGHT

LOGAN

After what Jordy said at the Winter Formal, I knew I had to do something. Asking her to be patient and trust me isn’t working. She wants to leave me. Sure, she said it’s the town, but this is my home. It’s where I grew up and where I want to stay. Leaving itisleaving me. I could see it in her eyes. The reason she wants to move to the city. She thinks there’s nothing here for her. No reason for her to stay.

I asked her to meet me here at five. A knock sounds on the glass door. I hurry over to let her in. She looks around the lobby and smiles. “A tour of the McKay Media Offices. I’m ready to be impressed.”

We take the elevator to the twenty-first floor. The space is under construction, but tonight, I have a small table set up over by the area which will be floor to ceiling windows. My hands are shaking. I’ve been holding onto this thing since last semester, before I knew she was playing me. I considered throwing it in the lake or in the fireplace, but I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it or to return it. It wouldn’t have been right to let someone else wear it. This is hers.

Nobody knows I have it, not even Simon. It’s the one thing I went out and did because I knew I had to. Now I have to do this. Wiping my palm against my leg, I take a deep breath. Fuck, I’ve never been this nervous before.

I should probably say something sweet and romantic, but I’ve got nothing. Instead, I pull the tarp off of the sculpture. It’s a replica of open hands. My hands. Nestled inside the palms is an open jewelry box.

“Holy fuck!” she gasps.

“I saw the photo in your dorm room last semester. Based on the date stamp, I knew it was taken in New York. I figured it really resonated with you and I wanted to get an updated version that matches your personality. I-”

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