Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1)(89)
“Sounds like you’ve been…” His thumb traced my chin and just barely glanced over my bottom lip. I sucked in a breath and almost forgot what I was going to say, “…taking notes, yourself.” I gently lay my book down on the dock, far from any risk of falling in the water. I might have been captivated by Dev’s eyes on mine, but this was a collector’s edition.
That dimple showed up again in his cheek. “I actually rate higher than your book?” His thumb paused again over the corner of my lips.
I reached up around his neck, letting my fingers dig into his hair. “For now. But when the last Hidden House book comes out, you’re gonna have some serious competition.”
“We’ll see about that.” He was close enough that everything was out of focus but his eyes, which took on a little bit of a gold-green glint in the soft morning light. My focus dropped to his lips, which quirked up—he noticed. He moved and his mouth was millimeters from mine. “I plan on making you forget all those book boyfriends of yours.”
His breath tickled my lips and, heart pounding, I inched a tiny bit closer so mine just brushed his as I spoke.
“Good luck trying.” And then gravity took over and there was no space between us.
Dev pulled back, dropping a quick peck on the corner of my mouth. “I think I love the woods. It took getting you covered in mud and hay to admit you liked me.”
I put my hand on his chest before he could come in for another kiss. “What about later today?” I tried not to let that oh-so-real fear creep into my words, and just aimed for a very light Marissa-like tone. I let my other hand trail along the neckline of his sweatshirt and I marveled at how he froze and his eyes grew brighter at my touch.
“Huh?”
“Well, we’re not going to be co-counselors anymore. You don’t have to bring excitement into my life, or whatever the job description said, after we step off that bus.” Being this flirty with him felt funny and yet right.
Amusement flickered across his face. “I’m sure I read about this being a long-term position.” He played with that loose strand of hair again, tugging the curl straight and watching it bounce back into a limp spiral. “Besides, maybe I’ll start getting As in English. The perks of dating you definitely outweigh all of your book nerdiness.”
He didn’t say the right thing, the perfect, bookish loveinterest answer, but it was still wonderful and real. Relief flowed through me and my smile grew into a cheek-achingly wide grin.
“Look who’s talking, theatre geek.”
“So, how does that story of the shy knitter and the mini sock boy end?” His fingers trailed down my cheek before slipping away and wrapping around the edge of the dock.
Turning my head to look across the lake, I shrugged. “Would it be too predictable to say I hope they’re going to live happily ever after?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer. I didn’t want to scare him away.
Dev began swinging his legs and every tiny contact of his leg against mine sent tingles across my skin. “Well, I’m still aiming for a sequel, maybe a trilogy. Definitely something truly epic.” He grinned when I looked skeptically back at him. “What?”
“Sequels have too much drama. And usually have cliffhangers.” I started swinging my legs in time with his, like a metronome for our matching heartbeats. “I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers.”
“How about a trilogy with our own weird drama-free kind of epic?” He leaned forward until his nose bumped mine and added, “I’m aiming for bestseller status with this one.” He kissed me softly, so lightly, before sitting back and waiting for my response.
I reached for his hand and squeezed, leaning against him and letting him wrap his free arm around me. “‘Oh, keep the world forever at the dawn,’” I said again, and his arm pulled me a little bit closer.
52
Pine Central’s cafeteria was louder than usual, but I barely noticed. I absently dipped my grilled cheese stick into my tomato soup and flipped the page, careful not to get grease on Northern Light’s crisp, new pages. Aurora had just entered the home of the leader of the Huldufólk and was about to see Gideon again. A whoop a few tables away as the hockey guys did…something…just became background noise.
“I don’t know why she even bothers to sit with us.” Em’s hand waved in front of my face and broke my concentration. “Seriously, Feebs?”
I swatted at her hand and turned a little so my book was propped on the corner of the table. “Shh. it’s getting really good,” I said, wishing I could stick a “do not disturb” sign on the back of my shirt.
A hand clamped on her shoulder and the light in her rose up to twine with the darkness seeping off of his hand. It was funny how the darkness used to feel ominous and now felt wonderful, like a caress.
“Weirdo.”
“Shh.” Any scene with Gideon in it was worth missing out on the latest lunch gossip.
His other hand brushed gently against her back to turn her so she was partly facing him. “Yes, she may be new, but Aurora has been a fast study.” Those almost unnaturally blue eyes met hers.
A hand softly brushed my arm and I looked up into naturally hazel eyes that were a brownish-green at the moment. Dev slipped onto the bench between me and Em, managing to squeeze two trays of food onto the already crowded table. Between his massive lunch and Alec’s, it was amazing the cafeteria didn’t run out of food. “Sorry I’m late, MacKenzie wanted tips for a teacher flash mob at graduation this year.”