Page 64 of Little Monster
I think I might know now what all those love songs are about.
“This view is why I bought the place.”
Stealing my gaze away from him, I lift the mug to my lips. The first sip of coffee isheaven. The oat milk is frothy, and the coffee is way smoother than the stuff I buy. Granted, his probably costs an arm and a leg.
“Would you ever leave the city?” I ask.
He glances over at me, playing with his lip ring in the morning light. Instead of answering right away, he takes another sip of coffee, seeming to ponder the question.
“Yeah,” he says at long last. “I like it here, the energy. But I don’t think I’ll like it forever.” His gaze slides to me once more. Taking his hand from his pocket, Dex eases an arm around my shoulders, and I settle in against his chest with a familiarity that scares me. “Why? You wanna run away to the mountains with me?” he mumbles into my hair.
Without thinking, I tell him the truth. “Yes.”
Instead of responding, he pulls me closer, his arm tightening around me. And somehow, I think he likes that answer.
We finish our coffee, and I take both mugs into the house to pour a second cup. The sun is creeping higher in the sky, chasing the chill from the air.
I’ve just filled our mugs and am frothing the oat milk when I hear a small ping. Dex’s phone is on the marble countertop next to me, screen up. I have no intention of prying, would never evenconsidergoing through his phone, but the face on the screen is familiar.
Serena White.
The text message bubble is clear and crisp. I couldn’t stop myself from reading it even if I wanted to.
Hey, baby. Can’t wait to see you tonight.
There’s a sudden rushing in my ears, and my stomach is in knots.
Is he getting back with her?
Has he been with her this whole time?
Looking up, I find Dex standing beside the pool, his back to me, the sunlight limning his dark figure in gold. My eyes mist over.
He’s so beautiful. Too beautiful for me. Of course he’d pick her.
I briefly imagine Serena standing next to him, with her long blond hair and tan legs, and suddenly, I don’t feel so pretty anymore, don’t understand how I could ever be the object of his desire.
The coffee turns sour in my stomach. I have to get out of here before I make more of a fool of myself than I already have.
Hands trembling slightly, I finish pouring Dex’s second coffee, then take it to him on the patio, feeling like there’s a lump in my throat.
“Here you go,” I say, and when he reaches over to take it, he’s smiling. Until he sees my face.
“What’s wrong?” His forehead furrows, sandy brows pulling together in concern.
“Nothing,” I lie.
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
Dex reaches out, and his fingers are warm from the coffee mug when he touches my skin. “Like that.”
Tears try to burst into my eyes, but I fight them down.
I want this.
I want this so,sobad.
