Page 82 of The Enemy Face Off

"I'm fine."

I cling to him for a few more moments, feeling his chest beating against mine, his strong arms wrapped around me.

"Really?" I check.

He pulls back and braces my arms. "Really."

I stare into his piercing green eyes. "I should be mad at you for doing that."

"Don't be mad. I had to."

"You didn't have to." I hug him again. "But I'm so proud that you did."

"Would I be pushing my luck if I used this as an opportunity to negotiate a doubling of my daily kiss allowance?" he asks, squeezing me right back.

I laugh.

Then sob.

Then hold onto him extra tight for a few moments, before regaining my composure and moving back slightly. "No more coupons. I say we move to unlimited daily kisses. We can kiss whenever we like, how many times we like."

"That's the best news I've had all day." He smiles, and his teeth look extra white against his dirty face. "I want to show you something. May I?"

He brings his hands to the sides of my body, and I have no idea what I'm agreeing to, but when I nod, Milo picks me up and lifts me above the crowd like I weigh nothing.

"Look to your left," he instructs from below. "Fraser, Evie, and the minister got out through a door by the back." I spot the three of them, huddled together, surrounded by their families. He lowers me down. "They're fine, too. Safe and uninjured."

I let out a relieved breath. "That only leaves Amiel."

"I'm here," she says, and I spin around. She throws her arms around me. "I'm here."

I hug her back hard. "Oh, thank goodness."

Culver, Hannah, and Summer also join us, which means everyone I know and love is accounted for. Now I only hope no one else was seriously hurt.

As everyone starts talking, Amiel leans in closer to me and whispers, "I've been here for a while, but it looked like you two were having a moment, so I didn't want to interrupt."

"We've just survived an earthquake, and you're using it as an opportunity to make a not-so-subtle point about me and Milo?" I whisper back.

"Exactly. Wesurvivedan earthquake. If that's not a reminder that life is short and to not waste time, then I don't know what is."

When she puts it like that…

I turn to Milo, who's half-listening to the conversation between Hannah and Summer. When his eyes land on me and he tips his head up, a current of heat fizzles through my entire body.

I don't know if it's because I'm running on an adrenaline high having survived an earthquake, or whether I'm finally ready to accept my true feelings for the first and only guy who's ever given me a Valentine's Day card, but I march right up to Milo and lift onto my toes.

The conversation comes to an immediate halt as I cup the sides of his face. Not even the slight taste of dirt on his lips can stop me from kissing the man I'm falling for.

16

Milo

"Can I get you anything else?" Beth offers for about the gazillionth time.

"I'm fine," I reply, for about the gazillionth time.

She's been fussing over me ever since we got checked into this room. The wedding is well and truly off, and no one is staying, but venue staff instructed all guests to wait a few hours in their rooms to make sure there are no aftershocks before heading back. Beth and I have ended up in a room together. Seems to be a thing.

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