Page 96 of Kismet

“And by the time I got to a point where I felt human, it had already been so long since I left. I couldn’t do that to you. I hurt you enough. I couldn’t barge into your life like an unexpected tornado and ruin any progress you had made. You’d moved on and—”

“What?”

My gaze snaps toward him at the sound of his voice. It’s harsh, clipped, and his eyes are narrowed as he watches me.

“What?” I ask, unsure which part he was questioning me on.

“How do you know that? How did you know I had moved on?”

Shit.May as well tell the whole fucking truth. I’ve made it this far.

“Uh,” I sputter, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’ve, uh, watched you on Instagram since shortly after I left.”

“Youwhat?” he hisses, not necessarily sounding angry, but maybe more confused.

“I said I—”

“No,” he says, holding his hand up. “I heard you. Just… what?” He exhales heavily, his face screwed up in utter confusion. “Why?”

“Because… It helped me feel close to you, and feeling close to you is the only time I’ve felt relatively close to normal in my whole life. It’s selfish, I know, but seeing you—even through the phone—helped ground me. I didn’t think you ever knew.”

“I didn’t,” he murmurs, almost more to himself than me. “Wait… so you knew I was coming to Lubbock, then?”

Shaking my head, I say, “No. I was on a cruise with Molly. We go on vacation every year together, just her and I, and this year it was a cruise. I had no cell service or internet the entire time, so I was as in the dark about it as you were. I swear.”

He crosses the room with large steps, stopping once he’s a few inches from me. The emotion dancing in his eyes isn’t one I can decipher, but it’s not anger.

“Is that how you knew where to find me?” he asks quietly.

“Yes.” There’s no point in lying.

“How’d you know where I live?”

“Your, uh… your employee file.” I avert my gaze, unable to look him in the eye. His fingers come up, thumb and index finger gripping my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“You’re kind of a creepy stalker, you know that?”

My throat plummets to my gut, knowing this will finally be the time he kicks me out.

Except he doesn’t.

Closing the remainder of the distance between us, fingers still holding my chin steady, he sucks in a breath, making eye contact before pressing his lips against mine. Time stands still. I’m dizzy with his scent swirling around me, and the feel of his soft, supple lips on mine. It takes my mind a minute to catch up, but as soon as it does, my hands find his hips and my lips move in time with his.

His tongue slips into my mouth, tangling with mine, and the vodka he drank earlier fills my senses. Kissing Cash has always felt like a euphoric experience all on its own. His lips were made for mine, molding together with absolute certainty.

Breaking the kiss, he pulls back, glossy eyes taking me in before he whispers, “Good thing I happen to like the creepy stalker vibe.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Cash DeMarco

This isnotwhere I thought I’d find myself tonight when Stone showed up at my doorstep, drenched and disheveled. Every single thing about this night since the moment he showed up has been completely unexpected.

Iwantto be furious with him. Iwantto kick him out and tell him to never come back. But I can’t. I simplycan’t. Not when he just bared his soul to me, told me his worst nightmare, and allowed himself to be incredibly vulnerable for me. Not when he’s clutching onto me like I’m his lifeline, his only source of saving.

None of this magically makes the last five years disappear. The words don’t make everything better, but whether I like it or not, itdoeschange things.

Yes, he still left, but he didn’t leaveme. He didn’t leave because he didn’t care.

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