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He bends down and kisses me.

This time there is a deeper hunger to it—less controlled, entirely honest and completely stripped of any hesitation. I let out a soft sound against his mouth that I cannot entirely control, and I feel the curve of his smile press against my lips in response.

“Those fucking noises,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my mouth. “You have no idea what they do to me.”

He pulls away and looks at me for a moment.

“God you have no idea what you do to me. Let’s go to the gala and then we can figure the rest out.”

“Is that your plan?”

“That’s the beginning of a plan.”

“It’s not a very detailed plan.” I tease.

“No,” he agrees, smirking. “But it’s a better one that I had yesterday.”

I search his face, looking for a trace of that usual mockery, still a little unsure whether all of this is a joke or not.

“Relax, Bow-Peep.” He smiles, giving me a quick, reassuring wink. “Don’t overthink it. I like you, okay. Let’s just see what happens.”

I look at him for a moment longer.

“Yes, okay.”

Standing here with his hand still gently caressing the side of my face, all I know is that Julian Thorne takes my breath away in more ways that I am ready to admit.

And I don’t know if I’m ready to get it back. Not yet.

24

Ellise

Maddie is going to be completely insufferable about this.

I know before I have even opened my mouth. She takes one look at me over the rim of her coffee cup over breakfast, and I can tell she already knows something is up.

“You have something to tell me,” she states, her eyes narrowing.

“Good morning to you too.”

“Ellise, girl.” She sets down her coffee on the table. “You have been staring at your granola for five minutes without taking a single bite. You only do that when something is either very bad or very interesting.” She scans me up and down, taking in my flushed cheeks and obvious lack of sleep. “And you don’t look miserable, so…”

I look up at her.

“Julian asked me to his father’s private gala.”

The silence lasts approximately one second before Maddie is on her feet, both hands flat on the table and leaning towards me. People turn to see what the commotion is all about.

“I KNEW IT!” she shrieks.

“Maddie, shut—”

“I called this. Remember? Do you remember what I said? I said you two were either going to end up in jail—”

“I remember what you said.”

“Or absolutely fuc—”