Page 57 of Revenge Puck

The lift makes it so much easier to kiss her, not to mention that it lines up our lower bodies in that delicious way, like they’re meant to fit together despite the drastic difference in our sizes.

I ignore the whoops and whistles coming from the bus as I try to memorize every inch of Elle’s mouth, her taste, her fancy salon shampoo scent, the way she feels in my arms.

Being connected to her is everything, as if I could kiss her like this forever and never get enough. The tight hold Elle has on me makes me think she feels the same.

Until a persistent ringing interrupts.

Elle pulls back panting. “I think that’s your phone?”

“Shit, sorry,” I say as I lower her feet to the ground again. “Could be my agent.”

I slip my phone from my suit pocket and immediately answer when I see the name on the screen. “Hey, everything okay?”

“Just calling to say congrats!” Maya and Finley both shout so loudly through the phone I have to pull the device away from my ear.

“Thanks. Can’t talk right now. The bus is waiting,” I tell Maya. “I’ll see you both soon.”

“Have a safe flight!” she says before I end the call.

“Sorry,” I tell Elle as I slip my phone back into my pocket, right before Coach Ramsey yells, “Let’s go, Lawrence! We’ve got a plane to catch.”

“You…you should go,” Elle says when I grasp her waist to pull her closer.

“Fuck. I know,” I tell her. Why is saying goodbye to her so damn hard? “I can’t believe it was just two nights ago that we met right out here.”

“I know,” she agrees, bracing her palms on my chest. “Thank you for everything. Good luck with the rest of the games. I hope you get your contract renewed.”

“Thanks, cupcake.”

I give her one last swift kiss on the lips before I pick up my bag and reluctantly head for the bus.

18

Elle

“It’s weird how much I already miss him, even though I barely knew him, right?” I ask Audrey on our walk back to our cars that are parked at the salon.

“I think he was good for you. A nice distraction. And that kiss was hot as hell!”

“It was. It didn’t feel fake, but it still felt like goodbye.”

“Didn’t look fake either,” she agrees. “I just hope that now that Preston’s leaving town, you won’t give in to the fool.”

“That is not going to happen. I promise. No giving in to the fool ever. And maybe it's for the best that Preston left before we got any closer.”

“Why do you say that?”

I bite down on my lip, worried about telling her, but wondering if I'm overreacting. “Preston got a call right before he got on the bus.”

“Yeah, I saw. What about it?”

“Well, I got a peek at the screen before he answered.”

“And? Who was it?”

“The screen said ‘Maya?’”

“That's it? Just Maya?”