Page 21 of October

“Oh really? Care to show me what you’ve got?” I cross my arms and lean back in my seat.

“Are you throwing down a Clue gauntlet, Ash?” Her brow arches playfully and it takes all I have not to pounce on her again.

“Indeed, I am. Interested?”

She cracks her knuckles. “Bring it on.”

Wren

I pick up the small envelope from the middle of the board that contains the three cards which will tell us who the killer is. Three cards that I’m nearly one-hundred-percent certain I’m about to call out and win this game.

“Ms. Scarlett… in the library… with a wrench,” I say boldly, with a smile on my face.

He sighs and drops his cards onto the table. “Open it up.”

I’m already beginning my victory dance when I pull out each card, laying them face up to show I was, indeed, right.

“The streak continues!” I cheer, continuing my little jig.

“I was too confident. I have to say, I’m impressed.”

“It’s like my party trick, you know? Clue Master,” I tell him, finally putting an end to my dance and sitting on his lap. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“This. Spending time with me. Trying us on for size and seeing if we fit.”

I can feel his arms tightening around me. “I’d be lying if I said this isn’t something I’ve thought about a lot, but your age always stopped me.”

“It’s not like I’m freshly eighteen years old, Ash. I’m twenty-four. I have a bachelor’s degree and might be pursuing a master’s. I have a job I love and a hot-ass boss with a huge co—”

He cuts me off, smashing his lips to mine.

The board game behind us is long forgotten until the peg and murder weapon pieces are pressing into my back, leaving their marks on my body along with him.

Chapter 12

Wren

I don’t think thereis a single flat surface in this house we haven’t utilized in one way or another. Hell, even non-flat surfaces have been used when necessary.

I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, but with every time the sun rises, I find the pit in my stomach growing more and more.

Regardless of how we feel at the end of our time today, things will change when Casey comes home. They’ll have to.

Saying goodbye to this dynamic will break my heart and I want to talk to him about it, but I’m afraid I’ll shatter this illusion. I don’t want to ruin this little bubble we have created for ourselves any sooner than necessary.

But with the way my heart is pounding just from watching him make me breakfast, I know I’ve fallen off the deep end for him and it’s going to sting when I land.

“You all right over there?” he asks, pulling me from my sulk-fest.

“Mmmhmm. Yeah, I’m just watching you.”

“I think someone has some voyeuristic tendencies.” He smiles as he plates up my eggs.

“Yes, but it’s also fascinating to see you cook. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you use this kitchen alone before,” I joke before hopping off the barstool and rounding the small island so I can be closer to him.

“That would be because I have this very talented nanny who likes to keep me fed. She handles business in this room before I can even think of something.”

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