Page 56 of Heart of Gold
A smile flirts with his perfect lips, “I know it’s ridiculous, but Ilovewhen you call me Phoenix.”
As weird as it sounds, I love the way the word love rolls off his lips. I can’t help but imagine him using it in a different context. It makes me wonder if he’s ever said it to anyone. If he’s ever truly been in love.
I’m staring into his perfect eyes and it doesn’t take long for me to realize the way he’s looking back at me. I’m not an obligation to him. I’m not some chore or an item he has to check off his to-do list for the day. No. He’s truly interested in me. He wants to spend his time with me.
“What are you thinkin’ about pretty girl?”
I fucking melt when he calls me that. I’m obsessed with it.
“I was just thinking about how nice it is when you look at me like that.”
His brows furrow, “Like what?”
“Like I’m someone youwantto hang out with.”
He pushes my blonde hair behind my ear, trailing his fingertip down my neck. “I’ve wanted to hang out with you since the first time I saw you.”
“Well, lucky you. Here we are, in real life, not just a summer accident.”
He shakes his head, “Nothing about this is an accident.”
I chuckle, “Come on Bob Ross, it totally is.”
“Who the hell is Bob Ross?”
My eyes bulge, “Oh Em Gee. How do you not know who Bob Ross is? He painted trees. Happy Accidents?”
He just stares at me like I’ve lost my fucking mind. “Nevermind. So I’ve decided that we are going to volunteer at the animal shelter together.”
He raises his brow, “We are?”
“Yep,” I say nonchalantly. “What day works best for you? I’m thinking Sundays.”
I can tell he is ripping apart his work out schedule in his head, trying to figure out how he can squeeze it in.
“Stop thinking,” I sigh. “Just commit. The gym can wait.”
Lifting his hand, he drags the back of his fingers up my bicep and back down, “Why would you want to do that, I mean I’m sure you have better things to do than clean up after a bunch of dogs.”
I shrug, “Not really. I don’t plan on going home on the weekends. Plus, we can get to know each other better.”
His face begins to turn a little red, “Are you saying you wanna watch me trip over my words more often?”
“It’s actually pretty adorable.”
His eyes fall so delicately to my lips, and I feel time stand still for a brief moment, before he presses them against mine.
For a second, I forget about the lies, the betrayal, all of the shit I just dealt with earlier today.
He makes me forget and just be present, in the moment.
chapter twenty-three
Gavin
I took Quinn back to her dorm last night, and kissed her again before she got out of my truck.
It felt right.
