Page 161 of A Little Broken

I don’t know how he does it. How he can make me want him like this. Physically. Emotionally. I wasn’t kidding when I said I missed him. I missed him a lot. And being near him again? It’s like a drug. One I’m too weak to stay away from.

Maybe it’s time for a new note.

The thought flutters through me before I have a chance to stop it, leaving me a little anxious, but also at peace because if I know anything about the man in front of me? He’s worth it all.

“So, am I allowed to come in or are you going to keep eye fucking me in the hallway?” he asks.

With a smile, I open the door the rest of the way and reach for one of the shakes. As he steps over the threshold, I scoop a giant bite of icy, creamy, heaven-sent deliciousness into my mouth, then walk toward my bed. He follows, closing the door behind him and leaning against it, his gaze never leaving me.

“So I take it you’re happy to see me?”

“I mean, you did bring me a chocolate shake, so…”

His smirk widens. “Glad I’m good for some—” His phone rings, cutting him off, and he takes it out of his pocket.

“Who is it?” I ask.

Without looking up at me, he mutters, “Roman.”

“Are you going to answer it?”

His head bobs slowly, and he lifts his cell to his ear. “Hello?”

Pause.

“Hey, man. What’s up?” Pax asks.

Pause.

“What do you mean, change of plans?”

I wait, more curious than I’d like to admit.

He sighs. “Yeah, I know the place.”

Pause.

“Tonight?” Pax asks.

Pause.

Pax’s gaze connects with mine, and he sighs again. “Yeah, I know you told me these things move quick, but I didn’t think?—”

Roman must cut him off because his molars grind, and he shifts his cell to his opposite ear. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll be there. See you then.”

The call goes dead, and Pax looks down at me again, finding my attention solely on him. He doesn’t seem too frustrated, only caught off-guard, maybe? Honestly, I’m not sure.

Licking some of the excess shake from my spoon, I ask, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” He continues his stare and clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “It seems there’s a…change of plans.”

“I heard.” I shovel another bite into my mouth. “Does this mean you’re leaving?”

“Yeah, the, uh, the fight’s tonight.”

“Like the underground, shady AF fight?” I ask. “Thatfight?”

His mouth lifts. “That’s the one.”

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