Page 71 of Take This Heart
I lean down and kiss her forehead and then brush my lips lightly over hers. Her eyes flutter closed and she smiles against my mouth.
“Night, Milo Lombardi,” she whispers.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
COMPARISON IS THE ENEMY OF JOY
GOLDIE
My dreams are a jumble of Ava Piper and Bruce Granger yelling at me in Kitty-Corner, people from town giving me dirty looks, and then they shift to Milo’s mouth between my legs. I wake with a start, wet and pulsing around nothing, and my cheeks flame when I remember the night before. I’d be certain last night was a dream too, if it weren’t for the way my chin and inner thighs tingle from his stubble. My nipples pebble as I relive him staring up at me while his tongue and fingers made me see stars. I press my fingers against my lips, feeling their puffiness from our kisses, and smile. I’ve never felt the way I do when he kisses me, and the memory of the magic he inflicted with his touch makes me hot all over. It’s crazy to say that it was the hottest experience of my life.
I was so serious with Wes. I thought I’d marry him one day, but he never made me feel anything close to the way Milo does. He also didn’t drive me crazy like Milo…everythingabout Wes feels bland and dull when I think about him now. I hate comparing the two, but it’s hard not to since I opened up about him to Milo.
But then I remember Milo stopping us from going any further last night, and it’s like cold water being sloshed in my face. What man doesn’t want to have sex when he has a willing body? All my words about not trusting him, yet I practically threw myself at him.
He must’ve regretted going as far as we did. I know he liked kissing me—I could feel how much he liked that. That was impossible to ignore.
I cover my face with my hands.
Oh God, oh God, oh God, maybe he didn’t like how eager I was, how I tasted…how I tried to lure him into my bed.
Maybe he’s still hung up on Roshana.
I jump up and stare at my reflection in the mirror. Horror stares back.
How am I going to face him today?
I shower and get dressed, gradually numbing myself in preparation for the day. I don’t like being this way. I want to be an evolved human and deal with emotions and feelings head-on, but I think that ended with Wes and when I lost my mom in a car accident. Don’t even get me started on my own car accident. I press my lips together after I apply lip gloss and force a smile.
“You’re doing good to still be standing. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” I say to myself in the mirror.
But then I walk into the kitchen and Milo and Dad are sitting at the table, laughing and having coffee, and I nearly turn around and go back to my room.
Milo looks over, a wide smile on his face. It falters when he sees me.
Probably has something to do with the blank look on my face.
I’m not proud of it, okay?
But he’s the one who put a halt to things, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself, it’s that I need to protect this heart.
“Hey, buttercup,” Dad says.
“Morning, Dad. Milo.”
Dad chuckles. “Milo was just telling me this funny story about the guys out there?—”
“He’s a good storyteller,” I say, moving to the coffee and filling my fattest mug.
“Well, you should have him tell you this one,” Dad says. “I’m having Second Breakfast with Jason today.” He smiles and gets up, stopping to kiss my forehead.
“You’re such a hobbit. What’s next? Elevensies?” I grin. “Tell Jason hello for me.”
Jason is Erin’s dad and one of my dad’s good friends.
“I will.” He points between the two of us. “I’ll probably be gone a while. Stay out of trouble today, would ya?”
My face flames. “Of course. Don’t overdo it, okay?” I smile at him and he squeezes my shoulder before walking out.
