Page 60 of Every Shattered Note
I would stay.
If she let me, I’d spend the rest of my life learning her piece by piece, kiss by kiss, until there’s nothing left she’s afraid to share.
I don’t want to stop.I want to keep kissing her until this plane lands, until the world reminds us that whatever this is—might be impossible.
But I do stop.
Because the truth is, I don’t want to just kiss her.
I want her to look at me tomorrow and still see something worth staying for, so I pull back.
Our foreheads touch for a second—just a pause, just enough to stay close without pushing—and when I finally open my eyes, hers are already waiting for me.
Fuck.
If she knew what she looked like right now.
If she knew what she was doing to me just by staying still, by letting me in.
There’s so much quiet in her gaze, and yet it’s louder than anything I’ve ever heard.
She could end me with one word.
And maybe she should.
I clear my throat, but it doesn’t help.Nothing does.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, my voice rough around the edges.“Never meant for this to turn into something you’d have to recover from.”
She exhales through her nose, slow, measured.
“Next time,” she says, “be honest.”
I nod.Then reach up and gently move a few strands of hair away from her face.“Next time for what?”I ask, even though I shouldn’t.Even though hope is a dangerous thing in my hands.
“I’m keeping the glasses, by the way.In public.”I offer her a half-smile.“It’s freeing.But I’m retiring the name swap.Though, technically, I never lied.You assumed I was someone else, and I didn’t correct you.”I shrug.“Still, it was an asshole move, I know.”
She lifts an eyebrow.“I meant more like ...no lies between us.Ever.That’s what I want next time.”
There’s a part of me that wants to ask if there will be a next time.But instead I grin, because she’s giving me an inch, and I’ll take it like it’s gold.
“Alybear, I’m a man with no filters.You’ll get the unrated version from now on.No lies.”
She narrows her eyes.“Stop with the Alybear.”
I kiss her hand, slow and light, right over her knuckles.“No promises.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t pull away.That’s a good sign.A better one than I deserve.
“Fine,” I say, watching her carefully.“I’ll consider it, but I have one question.”
She gives me a look.“That sounds dangerous.”
“Promise it’s a good one.”
She stares at me suspiciously.
“How long can we stay in paradise?”
