Page 36 of A Place Like You

Her eyes search mine as if trying to gauge whether we should share more about each other. Then she smiles and shakes her head.

“I thought so,” I say, pulling out my phone and firing a text to Callahan.

* * *

Drake: Did I mention Dad summoned me to DC so I could perform cosmetic surgery on a few of his associates?

Callahan: What kind of surgery?

Drake: He wanted me to alter their appearances.

Callahan: Why didn’t you tell me this before?

Drake: It didn’t seem important at the time.

Callahan: Do you have any names?

Drake: No. I told him to fuck himself.

Drake: Do you think they killed him because I refused to perform the surgeries?

Drake: Fuck, I got our father killed.

Callahan: You didn’t, but it’d be important to find out who was trying to get a facelift and disappear.

Drake: What if it was for him, and he’s not dead?

Callahan: Though a great theory, I know he’s no longer among the living. Thank you for letting me know about his plans. If you remember any names, message me.

Drake: I will.

* * *

Right after my exchange with Cal, I go back to stand next to Wren and begin helping her with the dishes. The clinking of plates and silverware fills the air, creating a rhythm that matches my heart’s beat. Her laughter echoes around the room as we exchange playful banter, our eyes meeting in brief, stolen glances that send a tingle down my spine.

I catch her studying me for a moment, her eyes seemingly searching for something. Maybe she’s just trying to figure me out, and I’m the only one wishing for more. Her gaze lingers on mine, and there’s an unspoken question in her eyes as if she’s daring me to make a move.

The temptation is big. I want to put my hands on her and pull her toward me, to bridge the gap between us. But I rely on the little self-control I have left, holding back my desires beneath the façade of our casual conversation.

As I reach for the plate she just rinsed so I can dry it, our fingers brush momentarily, and a jolt of electricity shoots through me. It’s a fleeting touch, yet it lingers on my skin, leaving me yearning for more. I quickly withdraw my hand, my body tensing with both excitement and trepidation. I’m afraid of where it might lead, fearful of losing myself in this magnetic pull that draws me to her.

Wren’s lips curve into a playful smile, and her eyes dance with mischief as she hands me another plate. There’s a glint in her gaze, a spark of understanding that stirs something deep within me. The moment passes but leaves me breathless and craving more.

I try to focus on the towel and the dishes in front of me, attempting to regain my composure. But my heart refuses to calm, pounding relentlessly in my chest like a wild drumbeat. Every fiber of my being is drawn to her, and it’s becoming increasingly challenging to concentrate when her presence exerts such a powerful magnetic force that I can’t ignore.

We move in perfect sync, our bodies unconsciously mirroring each other’s movements. It’s as if we share an unspoken language. There’s an understanding between us that words can’t express. So similar to the one we shared while attending to the victims last Friday night.

What is it about her that makes me feel so at ease and drawn to her in ways I can’t explain? There’s something deeper than attraction, something that pulls me toward her on an emotional level. I’m mesmerized by her, captivated by her essence.

With every passing second, the tension in the room thickens, the air charged with unspoken desires. It’s a delicate dance between restraint and surrender as if we’re both afraid of acknowledging the feelings that simmer beneath the surface. I’m torn between closing the distance between us and the fear of crossing a line that might change everything and destroy the connection we’re slowly building.

But something tells me that even if I’m able to resist her today, tomorrow, things between us will continue to change. She has become a constant presence in my mind. My breathing shifts, and my pulse quickens whenever she’s near. And I know, deep down, the emotions I feel for her are only growing stronger.

As we finish cleaning the last dish, our eyes meet once more, and I can see the fire in her gaze, but there’s also vulnerability.

Without thinking, I step closer, closing the gap between us. Her breath hitches, and I can feel the heat radiating from her body. I gently brush a strand of hair away from her face, and my fingers linger on her cheek, savoring the softness of her skin.

For a moment, the world around us fades away, and it’s just the two of us, suspended in time. The room is filled with the faint sounds of our breaths mingling, the beating of two hearts in sync. I can hear the soft sound of her breathing, feel the racing of her heart, and in that moment, I know that she feels it too.

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