Page 87 of Heartbeat

“So,” I said, “what’s the plan?”

“For today?”

“Yep.”

“Well, if we want to go to school, we need—”

“I don’t have to go to school today,” I said, mid-bite.

“Yeah?” He beamed. “’Cause I was gonna ask if you wanted to, I dunno, maybe hang out here.”

“Fine by me.”

“It’s raining anyway, so going out is just so—”

“Impractical.”

“And wet,” he added.

“Absolutely. If I want to get wet, I can just stay here.”

It was one of those moments when I regretted saying something while I actually said it.

He almost choked on his bagel. “What?” he asked, laughing.

“I mean, like a shower—” I started to get nervous.

Because that was what I did when I panicked—dug myself a bigger hole. In this case, a dirty, shameful one.

“What kind of shower?!” he asked loudly, almost unable to breathe.

“Not that kind!” I rolled my eyes. “Fuck!”

I was mortified.

“And you judged my kink?”

“This is not a kink.” I vigorously shook my head.

“Hey, that’s cool. We all have them,” he said, raising his arms, pretending to surrender.

“I’m never taking a shower with you after this.”

“Now, there’s no need to be vindictive.” He’d turned rather serious, which utterly amused me.

We finished the rest of our bagels in silence, occasionally catching each other’s eyes.

“Another one?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“There are thirty-two bagels in this bag,” I said, pointing down at it.

“I know.” He took my coffee cup from me and placed it next to our phones on the nightstand. “Later.” He removed the bag from my grip and set it aside in between folds in the duvet.

Clawing his hands on the plushy fabric, it slowly slid from over my lap. He leaned in, cupping my face with his hands, and gave me the softest kiss I’d ever experienced.

We had sex all morning.

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