Page 64 of The Risks of Reuniting

She rests her cheek against my shoulder. "Exactly."

"There had to be something wrong with you, and now we know, so I can stop being afraid of finding it."

I can practically feel her eyes roll. "Oh my gosh, Holt. I'm never singing in front of you again."

My right hand traces lighting up and down her back, as I hold her small hand in my left. "All right, I'll give you a chance to fight back. What's my flaw?"

"Hmmm . . ." She tickles lightly at my shoulder with her free hand. "Arrogance, conceit, ego-maniac behavior . . ." I tickleher ribs and she squirms. "Fine, it's your inability to make your bed and put your laundry away before it wrinkles in the basket. What kind of monster doesn't care about tidiness?"

"Baby, I'm so tidy now, you don't even know. My roommate, Brock, calls me Mr. Clean."

"Lies," she murmurs on a chuckle.

"Not lies. I've turned over a new leaf. I now see the value in running an orderly life."

"More lies," she laughs, leaning up to press a kiss on the side of my neck.

It completely distracts me and I squeeze her waist. She understands the message and kisses me again, this time on my jawline. She's all I can smell, feel, hear, and I am so gone for her that the entire world ceases to exist. Her lips find my cheek, and the corner of my mouth, and my chin, and she is weaving a web that will never break if I have anything to say about it.

"Chloe," I say her name under my breath, aware that we're not alone, but needing her lips on mine.

She smiles, confident and aware of her power in this moment, and gives me what I want. Actually, she doesn't give me entirely what I want. She does kiss me, but it's brief and appropriate for the fact that we're in the middle of a courtyard filled with people. I'm lucky I got her kisses at all, considering she isn't much for public displays.

"What are you most excited for about going home?" I ask her, trying desperately to redirect my thoughts away from the feel of her in my arms.

She settles back against me, and I can hear music and voices again. "My people. I'm looking forward to seeing them."

"Not safe water, and flushing toilets, and rat-free bedrooms?"I ask.

She wrinkles her nose. "Obviously, yes. But those things aren't as hard as being away from the ones I love."

I know she doesn't mean for that to prick at my conscience, but it does a little. Because if I had my way, I'd kidnap Chloe and she'd live with me, and she'd be all mine. I'm pretty selfish these days.

"What about you?" she asks.

"I haven't seen my parents in person for a while, so I'm looking forward to that."

She nods. "How long has it been?"

"Since Christmas."

She pats my arm. "That's too long."

I love that she understands it. So many people don't, but Chloe knows firsthand how tight my family of three is.

"What will you miss most about being here?" I ask.

She sighs. "It feels like a dream. Helping people who need it so much, it's been . . . an honor to serve them. I'll miss that." She pauses. "And moments like these. I know the real world won't be the same. Here it feels like we've been given this tiny slice of time to get reacquainted without all the pressures of life, and I don't want the shell around us to crack."

"It doesn't have to crack," I say, running my fingers down her spine.

Her voice is a little sad when she responds. "I wish that were true."

"New mission – should you choose to accept. Keep the shell intact."

She laughs. "Yes, sir. Operation Shell Life commences."

I chuckle too and hug her close, kiss her hair, and send all the good vibes into the universe, praying that when the shell does crack, it won't take us with it.

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