Page 37 of Was I Ever Here
I’m gawking at my phone in the middle of the aisle, the image he just painted making it hard to swallow. I scramble to come up with a quick comeback but I’m so turned on that I can barely see. I settle on a classic—act unimpressed.
Me: Sounds intriguing I guess…
A low chuckle comes from behind me and I freeze.
No fucking way.
I turn around slowly, phone still in hand. My heart squeezes tight, butterflies exploding in my stomach, when I find Byzantine standing right behind me. His eyes twinkle, a grin just wide enough for his dimple to appear. Ever so casually, as if it’s totally normal for him to have stalked me all the way in here, he shuts off his phone and shoves it into his pocket.
“Hello, my little sun.”
Chapter 22
Sunny
“Hello,mylittlesun?”I whisper-yell across the aisle.
My eyes are ready to pop out of my head but instead I turn around and head for the check-out without acknowledging him for one more second. He trails behind me, unfazed and takes the book I’m holding out of my hands.
“Here, let me get that for you.”
I snatch it back and glare at him. “No thank you, I don’t accept gifts from strangers,” I bite back with a saccharine smile.
He smiles, and then shrugs, stuffing his hands into his black jeans. “Suit yourself.”
I swallow back the retort burning on my tongue and pay for the book, thanking the cashier and practically running out the door.
I was not ready for Byzantine today.
By the time I’m outside, something dawns on me and I swivel back around almost bumping into his chest.
“Jesus, stalk much?” I say, annoyed.
I take a large step back and squint at him as if trying to catch him in a lie.
“How do you even know I’m hungover?”
I mean, I was a bit tipsy when he saw me last but not like,drunkdrunk. I’m also side-stepping the fact he knew where I was just now.
He doesn’t even bother acting guilty and gives me another one of his unassuming shrugs.
“Cameras,” he replies.
“You werewatchingme?” I say, trying for it not to come out as a shriek, but it’s close. Seething, I fight the urge to shove him hard in the chest. “What? Worried I’d get too close to Lenix again?” My question drips with indignation.
He’s full of arrogance when he opens his mouth next, “Looked like she had her hands full, actually.”
I want to scream. I stomp my foot on the sidewalk instead, my hands in tight fists.
“You’re literally insane, you know that?”
I turn around and try to get away but he’s faster. Next thing I know he’s pushing me against the brick wall, his hands cradling my face, his hips rocking into mine. Shocked, I stare back at him, his roguish smirk leaving me breathless.
But then he turns serious, any hint of amusement gone. He leans closer, his lips brushing against mine and he says, “Forgive me Sunny.”
His apology tastes almost sweet on my tongue.
But why does it also feel so loaded? Like he’s apologizing for something much bigger than just this. I shiver as he breeches the final distance between us and finally presses his lips against mine.