Page 101 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

“Are you absolutely positive?”

He chuckled. “Yes, gorgeous. I am. This is something I need to do alone. I need to look him in his eyes, man to man, and tell him the things I’ve wanted to say for years.”

My hand slid against his knee. “Well, just know the offer stands, if you change your mind.”

He looked down at me. “You’re miraculous, you know that?”

I smiled brightly. “I try as hard as I can.”

He chuckled before he pecked my lips.

“So should we talk about this dinner you’ve roped me into?”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “If you don’t want to go, that’s fine, too.”

“I’m sure your parents would be thrilled if I didn’t show up.”

“I’d love to have you there, though.”

“If we’re being honest with one another, I’m a bit uneasy about the whole situation.”

“Well, I promise you that this time, things will be okay. And if my parents kick up even the slightest bit, we’re gone. You have my word.”

He pulled me tightly against him. “What happens if we make it through this dinner alive?”

I sighed. “Well, whether we make it through the dinner or not, you’ll have to take me back to campus. I still have some things to wrap up there. Like speaking with Hannah.”

“And dropping out.”

I paused. “Yes. And dropping out.”

“You know how I feel about that, so I’m not going to bash you over the head with it. But a bit of advice?”

“I’m all ears.”

“Get whatever records you can of yourself. I keep detailed records of my health and medical situations in case I ever need them. I’m sure there’s an education equivalent or whatever. Get them so you have them, just in case you change your mind. Or want to get an associates degree. Or go to vocational school. Or something like that.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Has someone been doing research?”

He shrugged. “Possibly.”

I reached up, kissing his jawline. “I might be miraculous, but you’re breathtaking. Thank you for thinking of me like that.”

“I know better than to try and stop you. But I always want you to have a fallback plan if you change your mind, or figure out you made a mistake.”

“Thank you, handsome.”

“Anytime, gorgeous.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve got something else running through your mind?”

He sighed. “Well, John’s on this buying spree thing right now. He’s got more furniture he wants to get replaced. So my afternoon just got booked out.”

“Sounds like fun.”

He snickered. “Yeah. Right. But, that does leave our rented truck free for you to use. If, you know, you wanted to flip your schedule.”

I grinned. “You mean deal with campus stuff now.”

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