Page 77 of Connected By Stars

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Have you eaten dinner yet?

Bella

I was just about to order sushi and help Sophia with a school project.

Maverick

Room for one more? I could pick up the order and grab a bottle of wine on my way home.

I look up and see Sophia watching me with a sly smile on her face.

“What?”

“You’re all flustered. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you flustered before, either. That must be my brother texting you?”

“He said he could pick up our sushi and grab us a bottle of wine on his way home if we wanted.”

“He’s just full of surprises. That’s fine with me. The more the merrier.”

I text him back.

Bellla

That would be great. Thank you. What would you like to eat?

Maverick

I can think of one thing I would love to feast on right now.

Thoughts of his mouth on me enter my mind, and I lose my train of thought and forget to text back. I look down when it dings again.

Maverick

Are you still there?

Bella

Yeah, you distracted me.

I know he’s grinning right now and loving that he has thiseffect on me.

Maverick

Good. I want you thinking about my mouth on you. Just order me our usual so we can share. You know what I like. I’m closing up now, and then I’ll head over there.

Bella

Sounds good. See you soon.

Maverick

I’m looking forward to it.

Grinning, I place our order and fill up our wine glasses before joining Sophia on the floor.

I see her grinning at me as I reach for a scrapbook. “I know, I know. I have a stupid grin on my face. I can’t help it. I’m just so freaking happy.”

“I just love seeing you like this. I’ve been thinking back to the last couple of years, and the signs were there. I just didn’t see them.”

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