Page 135 of A Little Broken

With a frown, he starts, “You don’t have to?—”

“I want to,” I rush out. “I just have a few houses scheduled to clean today, and…”

Understanding sparks in Paxton’s eyes. “No pressure, Birthday Girl.”

That’s the problem, though. Isn’t it? Because he’s right. There is no pressure. Not from him. He’s been nothing but patient and kind and thoughtful, but I’m so caught up in my own head that I can barely hold a conversation right now, let alone an entire day with the man. What if I screw it up? Are we taking things too fast or too slow or…dammit, I don’t know?

“Seriously, Tate,” he murmurs, as if he can see the wheels in my head turning. “We’re good.”

“Rain check?” I ask.

“Yeah, anytime.”

The soft smile at the edge of his mouth eases my nerves and somehow quiets the carousel of thoughts plaguing me, proving exactly how awesome Paxton Turner really is.

Shifting closer, I brush my lips against his cheek. “And I do mean it. I want a rain check.”

“Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm,” I hum. “A hot and sweaty Pax beating the shit out of one of Judge’s nephews sounds like a pretty awesome way to spend my day. I just…I guess I feel like some time to breathe and let my brain catch up on everything that’s happening is probably…,” I lick my lips, “a smart thing to do. You know?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I get it. This is a lot.”

“Yeah, but it’s a good lot,” I tell him.

“It is a good lot,” he agrees, leaning in and kissing me. My toes curl in his sheets as I tilt my head, savoring the feel ofhis lips on mine. When he pulls away, he adds, ”So you’re not running?”

I shake my head, ignoring the tension in my fingers as I cling to the coffee mug. “Not planning on it.”

“All right, Birthday Girl. I’m gonna believe you, but don’t think I won’t pull out the running shoes if I need to. You hear me?”

With a smile, I nod. “I hear you.”

39

TATUM

Ireally wish Rory wrote papers faster. Or at the least, that she would’ve left Hades to help fill the quiet of the apartment. Instead, I have nothing but my thoughts to keep me company.

It makes me feel like I’m insane.

But this is what I wanted, wasn’t it? For Pax to drop me off so I could have some time to wrap my head around last night and all it could mean if I let it?

Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab a pen and the worn black notebook from my laptop case, needing the release it brings more than my next breath. The tip of my pen hovers above the page as I search for something to say. Something to flesh out my feelings instead of letting them fester inside of me like I usually do until it becomes too much.

And after last night? It’s a bit too much.

Hey, Arch.

It’s been awhile. I’d ask how you are, but you’re dead, so…

I sniff and force myself to continue.

Things are weird here. I moved in with Rory. She’s doing really well. Better than me, actually. Not that it’s a surprise. Mav and Lia are getting married. Strangely, I think you’d be happy for them.

I suck my lips between my teeth.

I want to be happy for them, too.

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