Page 79 of Faded Rhythm

His presence feels the same as it usually does. Quiet and controlled, but somehow still overwhelming.

I turn off the water and pat the grapes dry with a paper towel. I feel him beside me, and when I finally glance over, his eyes lock onto mine.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly.

I close my eyes just for a second to gather myself. Those two words mean more to mean than I expected them to.

A rough finger brushes a tear off my cheek that I didn’t know had fallen. Then another.

“Don’t cry,” he murmurs.

I sniffle, opening my eyes to meet his gaze. “Too late.” I shake my head. “I was in my feelings.”

“It’s all good.” He steps closer. “Of course I want you.”

My breath hitches.

“I want you more than I’ve wanted anything in as long as I can remember.” His voice is low and rough. “It’s just hard for me to let my guard down right now. Your life is in danger, Sable. Your girls need you around.”

He pauses, then his hand lingers on my face, his thumb stroking just under my eyes.

“I need you, too.”

The oxygen rushes out of me at those words. I feel weak. I feel overjoyed. I feel a confusing ache in my chest.

“Look at my Iron Giant, expressing a feeling.”

He leans in. His lips brush mine, tentative at first, then with more purpose. The kind of kiss that says what words can’t. He pulls me against him, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.

My body is on fire.

But I pull away this time before we get caught.

“I think I should probably tell the girls you’re not really our cousin.”

He smiles. “You worried about getting caught kissing me?”

“Kind of,” I say with a chuckle. “I’m not trying to scar them for life.”

I take a step back and smile again, but at a memory this time.

“This feels like deja vu,” I say.

His eyes narrow. “Meaning?”

“Do you remember me telling you about my cousin Dash who got killed?”

He nods, his expression curious.

“He…wasn’t really my cousin.”

His expression changes slightly, but he doesn’t say a word.

“It was puppy love,” I explain. “But it felt so strong at the time.” I smile involuntarily. “I was thirteen, but you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t in love with that boy.”

Julian chuckles at that.

“Redd brought him around. He was a little knucklehead from around the way who needed something to do to keep him off the street. He started working for Redd, so he was always around.”

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