Page 124 of Loving You

“It doesn't matter.”

Then she pushes past me.

“It does matter.”

“No, it doesn’t. This is what works. This is whatwillwork.”

“For you, maybe, but it doesn’t work for me. Not anymore.”

“What?” she asks as if she’s out of breath.

“I changed my mind.”

“You changed your mind. About what?”

“About us.” I reach for her hand. I tug her forward a few steps. “I don’t want to break up.”

“What about Mr. Pep?—”

“Screw him.”

“But you said?—”

“Forget what I said. Forget what I said about everything, okay?”

“I … I don’t understand.”

I nod slowly, a grin touching my lips as I look her in the eye.

“You want me to be clear, Quinn?”

“Please.”

I reach up, threading my fingers into her hair with one hand and cupping the right side of her face with the other.

“Breaking up isn’t an option anymore, and fake dating—well, that’s not an option either. From this moment on, this thing between us is real. Very,very,real.”

Her tongue slips over her lips and she bites her lower one.

“So, what’s next?”

“Well, I’d like to kiss you again, and then I think we should grab our cupcakes and head home, if that’s okay with you.”

She gives one small nod.

“Home sounds good to me.”

I barely let her get the last word out of her mouth before I press mine to hers. I add my other hand to her hair and deepen the kiss instantly, letting my tongue slip past her lips to tangle with hers. Her moan vibrates against my tongue as I step closer to bring her body flush against mine. Her hands rest on my hips, and she fists my shirt to hold me there.

I swear the entire world disappears at this moment. In a moment where I finally let myself have what I want most. Where I know the rest of the summer is going to be one I never want to end.

I have only a month left to spend with this woman.

I’m not wasting another moment of it.

“Let’s go,” I say, locking her hand with mine and tugging her toward home.

“Our cupcak?—”

---