Page 78 of The Edge Of Us

"I know," I whispered. "But ghosts have a way of showing up when you least expect them."

"Then I'll be the light," he murmured.

And in that moment, I believed him.

The ache in my chest softened, just enough.

Enough to hope.

Enough to want.

Chapter 44

Corine's POV

The morning sun poured into my room like golden syrup, warm and sticky against my bare shoulder. I blinked awake slowly, heart still fluttering from last night.

Jasper.

Jasper Ashford kissed me.

I stared at the ceiling, a stupid grin plastered on my face. Not the polite kind of grin. The real kind. The kind that comes from butterflies, from daydreams that for once matched reality.

"Holy shit," I whispered to myself.

The Jasper Ashford. The man with the quiet laugh and watchful eyes. California senator's son. Brittany's infuriatingly protective older brother. And last night-my date.

A real date.

One that didn't end in me crying or him running. Instead, it ended with us tangled in laughter, with cotton candy stuck to my cheek and his thumb brushing it off like it was the most sacred thing he'd ever touched. It ended with his mouth on mine. His lips devouring, claiming, worshipping.

I pressed my hands to my face and groaned into them.

I was in so much trouble.

Still grinning like a lunatic, I pulled on my robe and padded downstairs.

"Good morning, sunshine," Brittany sing-songed from the kitchen.

She was flipping pancakes like she owned the world, her hair tied up in a messy bun. Astrid was already in her high chair, smearing yogurt on her tray, while Kyle sat on the counter with a spoon in his mouth, giggling.

"Mommy!" Kyle beamed. "Brittany made pancakes! But not like yours. Hers are kinda... burnt."

"Are not," Brittany shot back, rolling her eyes. "I like them crispy."

I laughed, heart blooming. Kyle scrambled down from the counter and threw himself at me.

"We missed you. Astrid made a poop that smelled like the zoo," he declared, as serious as a four-year-old could be.

"Kyle!" I gasped, holding back a laugh as I scooped up Astrid too. "Is that true, baby girl? You stinky today?"

Astrid giggled, then squished her yogurt-covered hands onto my cheeks. "Mama pwetty."

I melted.

Brittany just gave me that look.

That look.

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