"I will find you. In the burning cities. In the lost islands. Among stars fallen and dust."
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She wasn't moving.
Like, at all.
And for the past twenty minutes-maybe more-Renna had just... clung. Not in a dramatic, teary mess kind of way. Not even in an attention-seeking way. Just... quietly. The kind of quiet that could bring down whole empires.
Her body curled over mine, soft and warm and almost too small. Her knees were pressing against my sides, arms draped around my shoulders, and her entire face was tucked into the hollow of my neck like she'd found her permanent residence there.
Fuck me.
My hands are resting on her waist. Lightly. Carefully. Like if I press a bit too hard, the whole room's going to catch fire.
Her hair smells like strawberries. Always that same shampoo. She's never changed it, not since we were ten. I used to hate the smell of strawberries growing up, but right now... I didn't even know my own name.
I shifted slightly, half-hearted, thinking maybe she'd take the cue. But no. Her grip just tightened. Subtly. Her breath fanned against my collarbone, slow and calm now, but I could still feel the tremor in her. A little leftover from the meltdown she'd had when that fight broke out upstairs.
I wasn't gonna say it out loud, obviously, but... the second she climbed onto my lap like this, sobbing and scared and vulnerable-I knew I was done for.
I glance to my left. And I know I shouldn't have.
Because Cameron's already staring at me. Leaning back, one elbow on the backrest, his glass of soda half-raised, his smirk fully in place.
He doesn't say anything. He just looks at me. Raises his eyebrows. Twitches the corner of his mouth.
I narrow my eyes at him. Don't even start.
He grins wider. Tilts his head. And now he's mouthing something.
"Oh, piss off," I mutter under my breath.
Cameron shrugs, smug as ever. His eyes drop to Renna in my lap. Then back up to me. His silent "I told you so" is deafening.
Asshole.
"She's just upset."
"Mmm." That fake fucking hmm sound he made, like he was agreeing just to piss me off, nearly did me in.
I shift a little underneath her - just a small tilt of the hips - hoping maybe she'll move. Her body moved with mine like she was glued to me.
Nope. No luck.
I've never had a girl sit like this. Not even in the most intimate moments. And yet here she is. Shy-as-hell Renna... acting like this is normal. Like she does this all the time.
