Page 143 of All We Need

“Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.”Iscramble to pull my phone out.Astring of texts and missed calls fromAlystare up at me.Mygrowl of frustration echoes around the small parking lot.

She-Devil: Hey, can you call me back?

She-Devil: Martin called. Harvey knows and wants to meet.

She-Devil: Heading over now. I’ll be fine. I’ll call once I’m done :)

She-Devil: I’m sitting in my car outside the farmhouse. I don’t know if I can do this.

She-Devil: I know you’re not ignoring me and maybe I’m freaking out a little. I’ll regret sending this later, but I could really do with one of your stupid innuendos right about now.

She-Devil: It’s snowing, and it made me think about The Nook. Can we go one last time before my trip?

She-Devil: Okay. I’m going in.

My chest splits in two.Anarray of emotions ransacks me.Panic.Distress.Anger.Misery.Pride.

Her trip.That’swhat she’s been calling her departure andIhaven’t had the stomach to correct her.

There’s another four-letter wordIcan’t bring myself to acknowledge.It’lldo us no good.Notwith hertripcoming up.

Her last text was over an hour ago, meaning she’s either still atMartin’sor gone home.

The journey back to town is a blur; my hands work on autopilot asItake the back roads in my urgency to get to her.Thefarmhouse is nearest, so that’s my first stop.

My tires skid to a stop, kicking up stones and dirt, whenIseeAly’scar in the driveway.

I’m diving out of the truck when the front door creaks open, lighting up the path.

Illuminated in the entrance standsAly.Evenher silhouette has my pulse racing.Theneed to kiss her, check how she is, and to hold her engulfs me.

I make it one step before she’s flinging herself at me, clutching at my clothes as she hugs me tightly.Allfeels right in the world with her in my arms.Wildcurls hide her face, andIweave my fingers through them to get a proper look at her.

I’d prepared myself for almost every outcome.

When a smile breaks out on her face, the corners of her eyes creasing, this is the oneIwas willing to sell my soul for.

Aly can handle anything.She’sa turbulent force of nature.TheSilverGoddess.Wemere mortals are lucky to coexist with her.

“Hey, beautiful,”Imurmur against her cheek. “I’mso sorry.Therewas no service at the butcher house.Igot he?—”

Her lush lips silence me.Thekiss is brief, perfect, but brief. “It’sfine.Youhave nothing to apologize for.”Whenshe pulls away to link our fingers together, all worry disappears. “Doyou want to come in and officially meetHarvey?”

“I’d really like that.”

And in we go.

She leads.

I follow.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

alessandra

TWO HOURS EARLIER

There aremoments in life that stay with you until your heart stops beating.

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