Page 220 of Power Play

My eyes burned, and Ryan immediately caught my chin.

“Don’t start.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re about to.”

“I’m appreciating the key.”

“You’re about to cry on it.”

“That isn’t true.”

“Your eyes disagree.”

I laughed softly and blinked until the feeling settled. “You barely let people touch those books.”

“You’re not people.”

The words landed differently the second time.

“You know this is a really big deal to me, right?”

Ryan’s expression softened. “I know.”

“I mean because of what you told me—”

His thumb moved across my chin. “I know why.”

I stopped. He didn’t need me to turn his history into something tragic every time he gave me a piece of himself.

Instead, I lifted the key. “I’m going to use it.”

“Good.”

“For Klein.”

“Good.”

“For Aura and Easton emergencies when I can’t handle her hate spews and need Bliss to take my place.”

“Especially those, because you can’t fix that, mi hada. Only they can.”

“And if I miss you.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “Yeah. Especially then.”

He leaned down and kissed me. When he stepped back, he took my phone from my hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving you homework.”

“I already have Klein.”

“This matters more.”

“That seems academically irresponsible.”