Page 48 of Kiss Me Tenderly
I place my finger over her lips, stopping her from finishing that sentence. I didn’t want to hear her say no one more time. Not after I’ve opened up to her and let her catch a glimpse of the man that’s been hiding inside.
“Think about it. Truly think about it.” My throat bobs as I swallow the lump that has formed before pushing the word out, “Please?”
She blinks, those indigo eyes seeming more vibrant under the sunlight, dark blues and violets playing in her irises.
What are the secrets you're hiding
Behind those violet eyes,
Little bird,
Good girls like you,
Shouldn’t have the demons dancing in their eyes…
“Okay,” she whispers, her lips brushing against my thumb. The touch is reflexive, completely innocent, but I swear I can feel it all the way to my bones.
Taking a step back, I look away, my gaze falling on two girls watching us from the inside of the diner, eyes wide.
Fuck.
“You know where to find me, Penelope.”
Letting my hand drop, I allow myself another look at her before I turn around and run in the other direction while everything in me screams to do the exact opposite.
CHAPTERELEVEN
PENELOPE
Your music makes me feel.Youmake me feel. And I haven’t felt anything in so long that I forgot what it’s like.
Sebastian’s words still ring in my head as the sound of his pounding feet fades into the distance.
I raise my free hand, rubbing at the center of my chest, hoping it’ll help alleviate the ache that his words have caused. I didn’t know what to do with this. What to do withhim.
Your music makes me feel.
A part of me wanted to help him, but this other part warned me I should stay away. Far, far away.
Shaking his words out of my head, I give the harness a little tug. “Entrance, Henry.”
Together, we walk to the door. I’m still in a daze as I step inside the diner, the smells of fried food, sugar, and coffee pushing thoughts of Sebastian to the back of my mind. “Henry, find Jade.”
He starts forward, and I get in step with him, walking carefully between the tables of Macy’s. Since this was our usual go-to place for breakfast, I was already familiar with the space, and the staff knew Henry and me, so nobody stopped me as Henry led me all the way across the room to our go-to spot.
“Well, hello there,” Jade greets, but something about her tone makes me stop in my tracks.
“Hey?” I say tentatively, my hand falling on a chair. “What’s up?”
“What’s up?” Jade repeats, her voice growing louder. “Seriously? That’s all you have to say after you’ve been holding out on us?”
My brows pull together as I try to figure out what she’s talking about.Holding out on them?
“Don’t tease, Jade,” Grace chastises softly. “Just ignore her, Penny. She’s awfully perky this morning.”
“I’ll give you perky. I’m just high on coffee.”
“Well, too much coffee makes you perky.”