Page 24 of Broken Silence
Weird fucking names. Beebip. Loopy. Reddy. Dressy.
Leona was never allowed to name a pet.
“Oh,” Leona said, her mouth making a big O and staring at Oakley like she was a celebrity. “You’re in Ole’s room!”
For fuck’s sake, no.
Oakley frowned. “In his room?”
“Leona, do you want sweets?” I asked, my heart thudding.
She ignored me completely. “Yeah, on his desk.”
Oakley bit her bottom lip, and I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. Leona and her lack of filter.
I ran my hands over my face. We never should have taught Leona to talk.
Jasper laughed at the awkward exchange. Dickhead.
“We should get to Ali’s now,” Sarah said, checking her watch. I didn’t want them to leave, but I did want a distraction from the Oakley photo. “Maybe we can meet up soon, though?”
“Tomorrow?” Mum said as she hugged Sarah, then Jasper and Oakley.
I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Well, I knew what I wanted to do, but it would be completely inappropriate in front of an audience.
Oakley turned to me, her eyes seeking permission. Screw it. My body needed this so badly, I could barely breathe.
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
The little, sharp intake of breath sunk into my skin. I held her tightly, my hand burying into her hair. She gripped hold of me, pressing her face into the crook of my neck.
She smelt amazing, her skin soft and so close to my lips.
Fuck.
Her body trembled against mine, and I wanted to sink inside of her until we passed out. I needed this even more than I thought.
I didn’t want to let go, not even when her arms loosenedaround my waist. Gritting my teeth, I dropped my arms and took a step back. My heart didn’t get the memo, still thumping as hard as when I’d been touching her.
She stared up at me with those sky-blue eyes and said, “I’ll see you soon, yeah?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow.”
“That sounds good,” she replied breathlessly. Her cheeks were flushed.
She nervously bit her lip before releasing it and smiling. Those teeth on that thick bottom lip…
“Oakley, get your tiny backside in the effing car!” Jasper called.
She rolled her eyes, and our moment was broken. “That’s my cue. Bye, Cole.”
I nodded once. “Bye.”
Mum closed the door behind them and wiped her eyes.
Mia turned to me. “Well, well, well…”
Holding my hand up, I said, “Stop. I don’t want to talk.”
