Page 48 of Just Forever

Ryker lets out some kind of cough-snort hybrid. “Which in Lake’s language means you’re ahead of the schedule you made for yourself.”

I’d argue, but…

“Only by a tiny bit.”

He laughs, shaking his head and wriggling lower on the bed, a sleepy look in his eyes.

“Do you want me to quiz you?”

I tilt my head to the side. “Quiz me?”

“Don’t even pretend like you don’t have flashcards at hand.”

I purse my lips and scrunch my nose. “You know me too well.”

“Or just the right amount. Send me the cards, and I’ll do it.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping so you’ll be well rested for tomorrow?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m not tired yet.”

He’s lying, but it’s kind of sweet, so I let it go and start scrolling through my phone.

“It’s boring,” I warn him, in case he doesn’t remember he’s not interested in cell biology and histology. “Are you sure you want to waste your evening on this?”

Ryk lets out an exasperated sigh. “Yes, Lake. I would like to help you study because it’s important to you, and therefore it’s important to me. Plus, my career has a time limit, so I need a husband who brings home the bacon sooner rather than later.”

Any mention of a future further away than next week used to make me clam up and fight off nausea. Now there’s a quick flash of discomfort, but it goes away quickly on its own. That’s personal growth right there.

He’s dismantled my distrust, step by step and piece by piece.

“But you have a game tomorrow,” I say.

“Weirdly enough, I didn’t think that disqualifies me from reading.”

He’s way too patient with me.

“But—”

“Just send me the flashcards.”

I do.

His eyes stay on me while we wait for the file to go through, and I feel warm and wanted—two things I never did before Ryker.

“Got them,” Ryker says after a few more seconds. “Oh, man. That’s a lot of questions.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“Baby, I was kidding.”

I blow out a breath and roll my eyes. “Just for that, I hope you’ll be incredibly bored.”

“What are the basic repeating units of the chromatin fibers?” he reads out before he flashes a grin at me. “I don’t want to jinx it, but so far it sounds like you’re getting your wish.”

“Nucleosomes,” I say. “We’ll keep going until you fall asleep, then.”

“I probably will, too, so don’t take it personally.”

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