Page 135 of Caught Stealing

“Okay, good,” he says, giving me a soft smile. “Then c’mon. I have a surprise for you.”

With a final glance at me, Phoenix pulls the door open, revealing the chaos behind the wood. Nothing atypical under any circumstance, but especially with it being finals week. I’m not entirely sure how a surprise works into the equation here, yet something must be off when I spot Theo in the hallway as we step out of the bedroom.

Was he waiting for us?

A shit-eating grin plasters itself on his face when he sees me hand-in-hand with Phoenix. The kind that tells me he knew exactly what Phoenix was planning when he helped plant the flamingo duck in my Jeep earlier today.

I’m about to call him out for it too, when he crosses his arms over his chest and says, “I thought Oakley was taking you home ten minutes ago.”

Oakley? Is he on crack—

Phoenix gently squeezes my hand, and my gaze flashes over to him. There’s a reassuring smile resting on his lips as he nods his head toward Theo. “This is the part where you said something about Oakley being bossy like a dad, and if Theo is going to do the same thing, he should just walk away now.”

I glance between him and Theo, still not understanding, when Theo smirks and says, “Someone’s testy tonight.”

“And then you said something about your roommates acting like babysitters all night,” Phoenix murmurs in my ear. “Then you looked at me and asked Theo to introduce you to me.”

I’m smacked square in the face with realization, and a knot forms instantly in my throat as I look at him. At this amazing, loyal, one-of-a-kind guy who loves me enough to do this.

To take a moment my mind erased and fill in the void.

“Nix,” I whisper, his name coming out grated and drowned in emotion. But that’s all I say. That’s all Icansay, or I’ll be liable to break down on the spot.

He gives me a soft smile and another hand squeeze before glancing at Theo.

My roommate’s smiling just as widely as he looks from Phoenix back to me. “Not a fucking chance, Hold.” Then he steps forward and gives Phoenix one of thoseatta boypats on his shoulder. “I’m heading out, but you played one helluva game, Merce. Don’t think too hard on it.”

“Thanks, man,” Nix says, a small smile on his lips while his thumb traces over the back of my hand.

Theo’s attention floats between us again before grabbing my shoulder and giving it a tight squeeze. An ear-splitting grin is still on his face when he says, “You’re in the clear. Good luck.”

And with that, he heads down the stairs, disappearing from sight.

Switching my focus to Phoenix, I find him already watching me with a mixture of apprehension and tenderness. The sight makes the organ pounding against my ribs beat a little faster.

“You with me so far, baby?”

All I can do is nod. I don’t trust my voice not to crack and crumble if I dare attempt to speak.

“Good,” he whispers. A little smirk tilts up his lips, and he steps away from me to lean his shoulder against the wall. “This is when I tell you that was one way to get a guy’s attention.”

Swallowing down the emotion as best I can, I croak out, “And what did I say?”

Another twitch of his lips, and then, “You said,it worked, didn’t it?”

I choke out a laugh. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“Absolutely, but I think this next part is probably my favorite.” He gives me another winning grin, even as those dark eyes are teaming with just as much emotion as I’m feeling. “Because I stared into your eyes, then let my gaze fall to your lips. And before I could tell you my name, you told me you didn’t care what it was, and—”

I close the distance between us and anchor my hand at the back of his neck, knowing myself well enough to see where this is going next. Knowing exactly what I’d do—drunk or not—at this moment.

Slanting my mouth over his, I kiss him like he’s the only thing in existence. Like he is the air that fills my lungs, and the reason the sun rises, and is in every beat my heart takes.

Because he is.

“I love you, Nix,” I whisper between each kiss I plant on his lips. “I love you so fucking much.”

One of those addictive laughs leaves him as his nose brushes mine. “That definitely isn’t part of the plot ‘til much,muchlater. But I love you too.”

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