Page 34 of Sweetheart: Part One

Rook’s eyes slid to the door for a long moment before he shrugged. “Call me crazy, but I don’t mind her.”

“You’re all losing your minds,” I muttered.

We’d only known her a few days. But perhaps I was too, because right now I was finding it hard to find reasons not to sign her in.

I couldn’t.

I literally couldn’t, even if she had quickly become a constant presence taking up space in my mind. For example, Drake was in there right now, and I wished it was me.

Damn.

This was too much.

I’d be hiding for the rest of the week. The moment she was gone, life would return firmly back to the known.

ELEVEN

Dear Rook: You were supposed to be better.

Day Three

VEX

The third day was strangely quiet up until the evening.

I’d woken with the scent of black currant wine in the room, which was becoming increasingly addictive. Drake had brought me breakfast in bed with a thousand apologies about Ebony. Then he napped on my couch, which confirmed my sneaking suspicion that he’d stayed up the whole night in case Ebony returned.

While he slept, I dared venture out with the intention of finding Rook. He’d offered a chance at a signature, and I was determined to make progress beyond just Drake. The large living room down the hall from the Sweetheart’s room separated Rook’s room from Love’s, while Drake’s and Ebony’s were in the other direction. After wandering the floor for a while and finding no one, I gathered the courage to knock on Rook’s door. No one had replied, so I’d tried Love—with a whole lot more anxiety.

Love answered his door with hair down and a coffee in his hands. He was like a reverse of Ebony, with dark hair rather than light silver, and pale skin to Ebony’s dusky tan. There were similarities, though, marking them half brothers. Both were tall as fuck, and neither seemed to have much of an emotional range. Love was both beautiful and intimidating, and his vanilla winter scent was alluring, but, just like Ebony, it felt dangerous. His neutral expression didn’t budge as he took me in, and he said nothing.

“Sorry to bother you…” I swallowed, begging myself not to chicken out.

You need to spend time with him.

You literally have to.

Drake is asleep, you can’t find Rook. It’s the best time.

Love’s expression didn’t shift, his sapphire eyes, unreadable.

“I…” I tried to find my words, but they were dying swift deaths beneath his gaze. “I was looking for Rook,” I stammered, clutching the hem of my sleeves in my fists anxiously.

Dammit, Vex.

“He’s at an interview,” Love replied. “He’ll be back this evening.”

“Oh.” I nodded, taking a step back. “Okay… Thanks.” I tried for a half smile.

Still, nothing from Love. Another step back, my nerves were still getting the better of me.

I couldn’t afford this.

He was just closing the door when I finally spoke, all my words tumbling over themselves too quickly. “Would you like to spend some time with… with me?”

Fuck.

Sound more desperate, why don’t you?

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