Page 100 of Paradox
“You’re the one who brought him up.”
Jin gags and wanders farther away from me.
“Get back over here,” I tell him—making a grabby hand in his direction. “I was trying to pay you a compliment.”
Pretending like it’s the hardest thing he’s ever done, he trudges back towards me and takes my hand. “You may continue.”
“Well, Iwasgonna say that I’m proud of you because we’ve only got a few hundred yards left to go and you haven’t complained once. But now I'm not so sure.”
“And why exactly is that?”
“Because I remembered that I’ve carried everything.”
“Fuck you,” he play-punches my chest with his free, gloved hand. “I offered, but you said no.”
“That’s because I’m too much of a gentleman.”
“You didn’t trust I wouldn’t drop it, more like.”
“Well, you are like a baby deer in those snow shoes.Andthey're designed for children.”
As I step forward, Jin lets go of my hand, and when I look back, I see him staring at me with his arms crossed and a rotten look on his face. “That wasn’t funny.”
I hold my hand out again. “Yes it was. Now come on.”
“I’m not a child.”
“And I’m not a fucking criminal. But you are small, and cute, and sexy as hell.”
His lips press together and I know he’s trying his hardest not to smile. “Give me something to carry.”
“You’ve dragged your big mouth the whole way, so let's just call it even.”
He tries to look pissed, but he wants to be back by my side as much as I want him here.
“Are you gonna give me any clues on what we’ll be getting up to later? Because I promise I don’t plan on being naughty.”
Glancing down at him, I see the tip of his tongue run over his top lip, all while avoiding my gaze.
“Licking your lips like thatisbeing naughty.”
He quickly sucks it back inside his mouth and straightens his back. “I hope breakfast was alright. I know it was a bit rushed.”
“The food always tastes better when you cook it.”
“But that's because food always tastes better when someone else cooks it for you.”
Tilting my head to the side, I give him a look that says;are you forgetting my roast veggies, and he laughs.
The glimmer in his pretty eyes, the way his cheeks push up, the depth of his dimples, and the tiny sliver of his gum that peeks out whenever he shows off his full smile… I can’t imagine them ever not affecting me. They punch me in the gut every time. And they choked me, slapped me, shot me in the chest, the first time I actually took notice.
Jin was the gun that night, and when his eyes met mine for a split second, he pulled the trigger. It was instant, and primal, and I didn’t know what it was until I thought I’d lose him in that storm…
About one hundred yards before the trees open up, I stop and tug on his hand. He pivots towards me, and I kiss him. “Merry Christmas, Jin.”
“You already said that,” he whispers, refusing to pull away from me.
“I know. But I needed to say it again.”
