Page 47 of The Masks We Burn

Finally, he relents and nods, his lips thinning as he turns for the door. “Alright. Goodnight, sugar.”

“‘Night, William.”

After he leaves, I stare at the mess of a table we left behind, a flutter still lingering in my stomach at what just happened. It’s subtle, so very subtle, but I feel it, somewhere deep in my chest. That extra little beat from my heart the second he took the reins on whatever this is.

I couldn’t place it until I had enough space to think, and now I see how truly bad I messed up.

Shit.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Being the outgoing guy I am, I’ve always liked school. Besides my continuous hate with math, I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people, but for the past couple of weeks, I’ve hated it more than anything. Assignments are due every other day, and meeting with my adviser and getting shit ready for graduation has taken up too much of my free time. Add in the training with Mr. Jameson three times a week, plus those few days of observing the youth football camp, I have had no time for anything else.

Not just anything else. Amora.

Two weeks ago, I saw more of who she is, and all I want to do is find out the rest of her story.

I could tell the moment her high wore off from her orgasm, and she realized just how much of herself showed through. Whether she wants to admit it or not, she’s scared of being vulnerable, and I want to punch whoever made her that way in the fucking throat.

Not to say fear of vulnerability is a bad thing, I just want her to see that she’s safe with me if opening up is something she wants to do. And I want her to, becauseIwant to share things with her...

A knock at my front door grabs my attention, derailing thoughts I shouldn’t be having. This is temporary and I’d do well to remember that.

A sharp ache radiates across my sternum as I cross the living room to the front. When I open the door, I have to look down to see Remy standing on the threshold, a broad smile on her face and a white cake box in her hand.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, little lady.” I return her smile and back away, letting her inside.

She places the box on the bar and spins around, a knowing grin on her face. “So, how’s Emerald Falls treating you?”

Closing the door, I lean into it, a happy memory of pink hair and swollen lips on my mind. “It’s been great.”

Remy taps the box twice. “Good to hear. Well, our dear friend Amora asked me to drop these muffins off this morning for your brunch with the in-laws.”

My head tilts, surprise raising my brows. “Amora told you?”

“I’m the one that suggested it,” she boasts proudly.

“What?”

She nods. “Yep.”

You know that feeling you get when you’re putting together a puzzle and things just start sliding into place at the end so seamlessly you don’t even have to really try anymore? That’s what’s happening now, and all of it points to her. I’m now positive she was also involved in Blaze’s offer to move here.

“You know we aren’t some characters from one of those romance books you read, right? Amora and I are in a mutual agreement, and this deal won’t end with us riding off in the sunset.”

She shrugs, tucking a loose hair behind her ear. “Maybe not.”

I take a step forward, realization setting in as I say the words. “Amora isn’t some damsel that needs to be saved. She’s a queen in a suit of armor that no one can get through. She may be stuck in some tower right now, but she’s busting her ass trying to get out, and I’m just the ladder to help her down. Or maybe the bishop she uses to win her freedom.”

“Sounds like the perfect romance to me.”

I huff, resignation filtering through as I give up. “Whatever you say. Just don’t be disappointed when you’re wrong in the end.”

She brushes by me, a satisfied smirk on her face as she opens the door. “Perhaps. But then again, you’re talking to a girl who was the main character of her own book and won the guy who didn’t believe in love.”

With that, she disappears out the front door, leaving me with her romance gibberish to decipher or ignore.

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