reams. The rooftop of the Drake Hotel had always been their sanctuary, their escape

to cool the wildfire raging inside her chest. She stole a glance at Bastian, who sat beside her, his gaze locked

of the rooftop. "Still thinking about that forensic science degree,

Still deciding. I mean, it's not like I

ble swimming beneath the usual warmth. "A l

nally tell him everything? About her home life. A

stas

orced a smile, masking the turmo

just a second before pulling out a small ve

ched. "Bastian

something that sent her pulse into a fren

, she lifted the lid. The city lights reflected off the delicate diamond bracelet inside, but what

the inscription, feeling the weight of

d, tears threatening to spill.

back of his neck. "You

wrapping tightly around his neck. He smelled like mint and

his shoulder. "This means so muc

ook at her. His eyes were searching, drin

Tell him

is wrists. She didn't know what to do with her nerves, did

r voice f

is head, am

rs dug into his wrist, and she wasn't sure if it was the sudden seriousness in

you've been the light of my life since we met. An

le

xcruciating silence

est, most reckless th

issed

re she could second-guess herself. It was chaste, barely a whisper of wh

her ribcage like a war drum. Mortification threa

her, stunned, mout

n she was ab

mov

perate. U

shed his lips to hers. Heat exploded through her veins, scorching and intoxicating,

hat made her knees buckle. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her impos

e drowning and breathing at the same time. Like

, their breaths mingling. His fingers ghosted over her jawline

g of this moment sin

again, and before she could even process it, he kis

would ever

-

inated their rivals. The energy in the st

arely been able to sit still. When the final whistle blew, Bastian b

for the whole world to hear before crashing h

heers, whistles echoing across th

her heart, the sound of everything she h

ng, eyes glistening. "

dropped. Eyes wide. Shocked. "A

laughing b

issed her again, with everything, lifting her off the ground, spinning

me in forever, s

was

e was