And when Tia’s eyes meet mine as soon as once more, they shine with deep gratitude. “It’s fantastic,” she murmurs, leaning in.

Then, her lips press towards mine in a grateful sweep.

36

TIA

The spark that dances between our lips is as alluring as the primary time Leo kissed me. And for a second, all I can consider is how a lot I would like him. The that means behind Leo’s gesture is so highly effective. I’m overwhelmed by the romantic date he deliberate for me, touched by the hassle he’s gone to.

He didn’t have to do it.

I’m sure to him whether or not I prefer it or not as a result of divorce isn’t an choice in my world. I’m Leo’s actually till dying does us half. So he may deal with me nevertheless he happy, and I’d don’t have any say within the matter.

And that makes his gesture extra significant than I ever may have imagined.

However because the film begins to play, I pressure myself to show and watch it. To totally admire the lengths he went to with the intention to make this evening a magical one. He already launched it out of the ballpark. As a result of he clearly cared sufficient about what I stated the opposite evening to take it to coronary heart.

And he’s not simply telling me he’ll take me on an journey sometime.

He’s doing it.

I grin because the film’s identify flashes throughout the display screen. Treasure Island. Glancing from the nook of my eye, I can see Leo’s pearly smile as he grins mischievously. One way or the other, the gesture appears meant for me, although his eyes are turned towards the display screen.

Coronary heart melting, I focus my consideration on the opening scene. Then, his hand crosses the automobile’s heart line to take mine. My abdomen flutters with inexplicable nerves, and I abruptly really feel like that very same seventeen-year-old woman once more. The one who fell exhausting and quick for her household’s worst enemy, a person she’d acquired numerous warnings about.

It’s terrifying.

It is a bit too just like the very actual and memorable sensation of really falling—proper off the sting of a cliff.

And but, I can’t appear to assist this any greater than I may once I actually fell.

Can I belief Leo to avoid wasting me this time? To tug me again to security like he did that day?

I don’t know if I’m courageous sufficient to danger it.

However after the evening he’s given me, I’m nearer than I ever thought I’d be.

I’m intensely conscious of the electrical energy that buzzes between us, a spark that ignited with our kiss and solely appears to be rising stronger at nighttime solitude of our non-public theater. It crackles within the air and leaves me intensely conscious of Leo’s physique.

I want, abruptly, that the console wasn’t between us, stopping me from coming nearer.

As a substitute, I take in the heat of Leo’s hand, conscious of the cool air that envelops my shoulders—the way it contrasts with the warmth of his flesh. Closing my eyes for a second, I attempt to recenter myself, to concentrate on the deal with he went to a lot hassle to place collectively.

Once I open my eyes, I discover it barely extra bearable to sit down silently beside him, with practically a foot between us.

Then, as if abruptly reaching the tip of his endurance, Leo removes his hand from mine. My abdomen knots on the abrupt change, and I attempt to masks my disappointment as I flip to have a look at him. However he affords no rationalization.

As a substitute, he opens his automobile door, stepping out onto the gravel that crunches beneath his advantageous Italian sneakers. He rounds the again of the automobile, and a second later, my door pops open.

“Are we going someplace?” I ask, confusion lacing my tone, and I look nervously out on the darkish past.

Then Leo bends down, his face dangerously near mine as he adjusts my seat, transferring it way back to he can earlier than reclining it.

“What are you doing?” Baffled, I flip to observe him.

“Scooch,” he insists, slipping into the automobile beside me a second later.

Shocked, I sit up as he settles onto my seat, closing the door behind him. Then he pulls me shut, my again towards his chest, his arm round my waist as we snuggle. Regardless of the confined area, it’s oddly snug.

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