Page 80 of Anton

“Aww, sweetheart.” Sloane clutches her chest. “I think he wants you to give it to your friend.”

“Friend.” Lev nods as he continues to hold out the hippo, waiting with that unnerving patience of his.

I take the hippo from him. “Spasebo.” Thank you.

A tiny flick of a smile appears before it’s gone and he rushes for his cereal, eating like nothing happened.

Sloane looks a little too emotional for my comfort. “He really loves you. But…I don’t know if you want to give her a hippo.”

I glance down at the ridiculous thing, then picture Thora seeing it and probably smiling like it’s the best thing anyone has ever given her.

“I think she would like it.”

“Well, okay then. A hippo it is.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ANTON

I drive toward Thora’s place with a basket in the passenger seat.

Me. With a fucking basket.

Completely overfilled too. Because once I got to the store, I realized there was an entire section of chocolates with too many choices and I don’t know if she likes milk chocolate or dark chocolate or the ones filled with caramel, so I bought one of everything. The gray hippo sits right in the middle of it all, propped up between the candy and the blanket, staring straight ahead with his one good eye like it’s judging.

Who can blame it? I’m judging myself.

I glance at it again, then back at the road. I can’t believe I’m doing this.

The closer I get to her place, the more ridiculous it seems. My hand squeezes the wheel as I consider turning around and throwing the whole damn basket into the woods.

Then her house comes into view, and instead of turning around, I keep going. Maybe I can leave the basket at the door and text her once I’m gone.

I park, cut the engine, and sit there for a bit, staring at the front of her house.

This is fine. It doesn’t mean anything. I just…did something nice for a woman for the first time in my damn life.

That’s not nothing.

Tvoyu mat. God damn it.

Climbing out of the car, I retrieve the basket and head for the door, hoping she doesn’t spot me before I get back behind the wheel. I place the basket in the corner so she won’t trip if she walks out…and that’s when the door opens.

Fuck me.

THORA

When I hear the noise outside and look through the peephole, I expect a package delivery maybe. Definitely not Anton standing on my porch.

Of course today has to be the day he randomly shows up, when I look like absolute crap. My hair is in a messy bun that took all of two seconds with flyaways sticking out everywhere. My T-shirt is too big, my leggings are old, and my face is probably pale enough to make me look half dead. There might even be a stain on my shirt from the granola bar I ate earlier, but I didn’t care about any of that.

Not until now.

As soon as I open the door, my gaze sweeps over him, and I internally sigh, because of course he looks perfect. Faded dark denim, a white T-shirt stretching across his muscular frame like it was made for him, his skin somehow tanner, his jaw sharper and more defined.

And those eyes. My God, those dark, sexy eyes are fixed on me, making it impossible to stop the way my body tightens for him.

Clearing my throat, I straighten, as though that will magically help me look more put together.