Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Thirty-Three

Katniss POV- (3 o'clock)

"Katniss, wake up. I'm home."

I wake to Peeta's voice and warm hands on my side.

I blink my eyes a few times until his blond hair and bright blue eyes come into focus in the mid-afternoon light.

"Peeta." I say enthusiastically, throwing myself into his arms.

He stands up and spins me around as he holds me tightly to him, kissing my neck. "I love you." He chuckles.

I kiss him full on the lips, "I love you too."

He smiles and rests his forehead against mine, we stare into each other's eyes.

"I think we are exaggerating a bit, don't you think?" He chuckles.

"No, because we are in love." I tell him as simple as that.

Peeta gives me a cute smile and sets me down onto the floor gently.

"How was your day, beautiful girl?"

I smile, pushing away a blush, "It was fine, I just missed you a lot. What about yours?"

He shrugs, "Just a day."

He plops down on the couch where I had been sleeping just moments ago and leans back into the thick cushion, "What happened?" I ask.

Peeta groans, "Nothing really. Just same old, same old. I don't know. I just haven't had a good day." He frowns.

I take his hand and press a hard kiss to it, "Well, tomorrow is a new day and we can finish today good, alright?" I say, looking on the bright side.

He gives me a sad smile, "You're so sweet."

I laugh a little and say something that I know will make him smile genuinely, "I know."

And there it is.

"And you are so cute." I say, gently pinching his cheeks.

He scrunches his nose and imitates me, "I know."

We both share a laugh.

"I'm starting to think you were right."

"About what?"

"I don't want to go back tomorrow. I want to stay home with you like we use to." Peeta frowns.

I feel really bad for him.

He went back thinking maybe things could be better but they weren't and if things weren't different today, they probably won't be.

"Hey, it's only your first day back. It'll get better."

Peeta sighs, "I don't think it will. I mean it hasn't in 20 years. Why would it now?"

"Peeta, you never know. Just quit being a pouty baby." I tease him with a bubble lip.

He returns the lip and gives me possibly the saddest fake pouty face I've ever seen and I've known Finnick Odair for 15 years.

"Oh, Peeta." I exaggerate and pull him to me, just as I would a child who was in obvious emotional exaggeration.

He wraps his long arms around my waist and hugs me tightly, something else a child would do. I just smile and hold him to me, overly caressing his face with my hand.

"I love you." He says, chuckling but still not moving a muscle away from me.

I laugh and kiss the top of his blond waves, "And I love you too."