Page 20 of Hang the Moon
He froze, eyes wide and lips parted, gum stringing between them. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
She snickered and grabbed her phone, snapping a quick shot of Brendon covered in gum. “Sorry?”
Chuckling, he began the arduous process of scraping bits of gum free from his stubble. Finally, he figured out that it was easier to roll it off, his fingers making little concentric circles until most of the gum was gone, save for the bit clinging to the side of his nose.
She stifled a laugh and pointed. “You’ve got some right there.”
He rubbed at the wrong side. “Did I get it?”
“No, it’s—” She stood on her toes, reaching up to do it for him, huffing when it wouldn’t budge. “It’s really sticky.”
His breath tickled her hand. “That’s what she said.”
She snorted and smacked his arm. “Hold still. I can’t get it if you keep wiggling your head.”
His nose scrunched. “Sorry. It tickles.”
Her calves were beginning to burn from standing on her tippy-toes. “You’re too tall.”
One of his hands dropped to her waist, holding her steady as he leaned closer. Close enough that she could count the freckles on the bridge of his nose. His tongue sneaked out, wetting his bottom lip. His breath smelled fruity sweet, wafting gently in her face. “Better?”
She nodded quietly, tongue-tied.
Ding! Ding!
She jerked forward, colliding into Brendon as a bicycle passed behind her, skirting the wall as it zipped down the alley and around the corner, disappearing from sight.
“You good?”
They were pressed tightly together from their chests to their knees. The hand he’d had resting on her hip had curved around her waist, holding her against him, keeping her steady.
Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, her knees suddenly stupidly weak. “Mm-hmm.”
She lifted her face from where it was buried against his firm chest. Sunlight caught on his pale, enviably long lashes when he blinked, bringing out the flecks of amber in his irises, his pupils appearing blacker by contrast.
He chuckled, the vibration of his laughter rumbling all the way down to her toes.Allthe way. “You sure?”
She stepped back, dropping her hands, flushing hotly as her fingers brushed the solid steel of his arms on the way down. “Yep.”
Just peachy.
His gaze dropped to the ground. “Ah shit. Dropped my gum.”
It was impossible to tell which piece was his, the cobblestones covered, nearly as much as the buildings to either side of them.
“Better the ground than stuck in my hair,” she said, shaking off how being pressed up against him had bizarrely knocked her off-kilter.
He hummed his agreement. “True. Want to add yours to the wall?”
Heat crept up her jaw. “I, um. I swallowed it.”
Between the cyclist and being pressed against Brendon, she’d gulped it down without thinking.
“You want a picture?”
“Sure.” She smiled at his offer, passing him her phone.
He snapped several pictures in quick succession.
