Page 348 of Eternal

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Kat’s grinning. “You didn’t tell me! I’ve been asking for weeks if something was going on.”

“Because there’s nothing going on,” I lied.

Kat leans forward dramatically. “Azra. You have a neck bruise the size of my hand. Don’t lie to my face.”

“I’m going to choke on my own cereal and die right here.”

Viktor shrugs, all fake innocence. “Hey, I'm only saying, if we’re going to unpack trauma tonight, might as well include the romantic kind.”

Kat nudges me with her foot. “Is he being good to you at least?”

I hesitate for a second. Then, “Yeah. Heis.”

A beat.

“If he hurts you,” Viktor says flatly, “I’ll gut him.”

Kat raises her hand like a toast. “Seconded.”

I laugh, chest shaking a little. “Yeah, okay. Good to know.”

And then, my phone buzzes. They both look at me while I check it.

Damir

Where are you? I want to see you.

I stare at it for a second. Then type back.

Me

Vik and Kat.

The three dots appear instantly.

Damir

I’ll be there soon.

I set the phone down, heart ticking a little louder in my chest.

Kat raises an eyebrow. “So?”

“He wants to come pick me up,” I say quietly.

Viktor tilts his head. “You want to go?”

I pause, and then I nod. “Yeah. I think I do.”

Viktor nods, kisses my head and gets up. He picks up the bowls and goes to the kitchen.

Kat looks at me and smiles, “I knew he’d be good for you.”

She pulls her legs up onto the couch beside me, knees tucked under her hoodie, and I do the same with the blanket.

“I think I heard the song you were talking about the other night,” I say softly. “The one you said would make sense when the right person would be in front of me.”

Kat doesn’t look at me right away, she’s staring at her fingers twisting the end of her sleeve.

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