Page 20 of Give In

Nice.

As was the goodbye kiss he gave me after he walked me to my car. There may not have been much sizzle, but I had hope.

“That was one of the best dates I’ve had,” he said, opening my car door. “You’re so uncomplicated.”

If he only knew.

I gave an awkward laugh. “That’s me.”

“Do you want to do it again?” he asked, not playing the wait-three-days game.

“Definitely.”

He gave me his charming smile. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” Leaning down, he kissed me sweetly. It wasn’t sizzle and crackle yet, but it was definitely a melty kiss. “Bye, Eden.”

“Bye, Brooks,” I whispered before getting into my car.

Giddy and happy, I headed home.

Half a day really isn’t long enough to pretend my life isn’t a mess.

I deserve two or three…

Centuries.

Chapter Six

Sizzle and Crackle and Natty Ice

Eden

“Hey, gorgeous.” Brooks dropped his bag next to mine and bent to kiss my cheek.

Surprised by the random show of affection, I turned my wide eyes to him but couldn’t help smiling. “Hi.”

And I was worried.

Maybe a bit.

Okay, fine.

I couldn’t sleep.

The night before, Brooks and I had gone out again for dinner. I’d been riding the high of my fake normalcy, trying to stretch it out as long as possible.

Preferably forever.

I’d only made it to Tuesday.

Because as I’d sat across from a cute boy, laughing at his cute boy stories, it’d felt all wrong.

I wasn’t the normal girl he deserved.

I didn’t have the time nor energy to pretend to be that girl.

It was selfish of me to continue wasting his time.

It’d felt like the walls of the restaurant were closing in on me, suffocating and oppressive. I’d tried to choke down the words, clutching desperately to my façade.

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