Page 130 of Don't Be in Love

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I love you too.”

I groaned. “This may be hotter than the time you buttoned up my dress shirt.”

“Kiss me,” she breathed.

“Finally.”I leaned down and pulled her in the rest of the way.

The second her lips hit mine, all the tension in my body diminished. Her gasp between our lips was swallowed as I refamiliarized myself with the divot in her collarbone and the muscle in her arms and the dip in her waist. I took note of it all as if I was rushing to collect evidence that’d wash away soon. Two steps forward and she was moving with me, her back against the building, and out of the awning.

She giggled as the rain hit us, but she didn’t break away, only dug her fingers into my hair deeper.

I could do this for a lifetime.

Hold her. Kiss her. Paint her. Listen to her breathe.

“Dorian,”she murmured.

“Hm,”I mumbled against her lips.

She pulled away, hands still at the back of my neck. Rain licked at her eyelashes and glazed her hair. My lips hovered between her brows. I close my eyes, trying to catch my breath as if I submerged from a lake.

“I can’t stay. This can’t be my reason to stay,” she whispered.

I didn’t have to ask why. It’d take time for me to earn her trust. I understood. I wanted more for her than myself.

I asked, “Do you love London?”

“Of course. But I don’t have a job lined up or—”

“Are you happy here?”

“I am.” She didn’t hesitate.

“Then you have to just trust that the rest will figure itself out.”

“But what if—”

“Just give it a try. If you’re unhappy after a month or two months or two years, then we’ll pivot. You lead and I’ll follow.”

46

Don’t Forget to Enjoy Life — Adelaide

Holy shit. Holy shit I got the job. I got the job on the day I was graduating—or, to be precise, five minutes before I was graduating. (The owner of Grace & Gears in Edinburgh said it would’ve been sooner if the email of my marketing plan from semester one hadn’t ended up in her junk folder.)

But after two interviews in the past two weeks, I got it.

“Why are you shaking like a soda bottle?” Mia asked behind me.

“I got the job!”I attempted to whisper as the line in front of us moved forward. Students stepped on stage to get their diplomas.

“You did?That’s incredible!” She jumped (while attempting to whisper).

“What is it? Why are you guys jumping?” Sabrina asked from behind Mia, popping her head out.

“She got the job!” Mia shrieked. Fortunately, the applause drowned out her volume.

“You got the job?”Sabrina joined our jumping circle. “We’re going to Scotland together!”