Page 33 of The KING Review

She shrugs, tiny shoulders lifting the blanket. “Only if you want, Papa. You don’t have to. You can just have me and Helen Fisher and green pasta and moons.”

I chuff a watery laugh, closing my eyes for a second because something in my chest squeezes so hard it makes my ribs hurt, but it’s sharp and warm all at once.

“That’s enough for me,” I murmur. “Goodnight, bug.”

She’s asleep before I even close her bedroom door.

It’s almost eight by the time I’m done cleaning up fully, packing away Sera’s little drawings, and lining up her tiny shoes by the door. The apartment is quiet. My phone sits face down on the counter, and even though I should probably go straight to bed, I end up hovering over it like a fucking teenager, waiting for it to buzz.

I’ve never been a firm believer in magical thinking, but when my phone vibrates, I wonder if it might be time to reconsider.

I hold my breath as I pick it up, trying not to get my hopes up. Trying to convince myself it’s Cade texting me about the PhD proposal meeting tomorrow, or Fia sending over her social media schedule so I can help with her videos on body language.

Nope; it’s her.

Every part of my body relaxes by degrees as I open the thread.

Don’t:

hey stranger. How did changeover go?

sorry for asking, I know it sucks. But I didn’t want to gloss over it either

it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, though

I can’t stop the smile that spreads over my face. I lean on the counter, thumb hovering. Sera’s question runs over and over in my head, and I think about how I lied to Ellie. Sure, nothing has happened yet—but yes, things have changed. I don’t think I can describe exactly how, yet, but they have.

Me:

Yeah, it did suck. But it’s the better of the two. Sera coming back to me instead of going with Marie.

I see no point in not being honest with her. But I want her to be honest with me, too, so I go out on a limb. I have to know where I stand. I know it’s going to crush me if she’s been fucking with me—but something tells me Neve hasn’t got it in her to hurt someone on purpose like that, which provides at least a little reassurance.

Me:

Hey, can I ask you something?

Don’t:

of course

Me:

This… whatever this is going on between us right now. It’s not nothing, is it?

The three dots pop up and disappear for a good minute. I think I might hold my breath the entire time, so that by the time a message finally comes back, I almost choke on my next inhale.

Don’t:

no, it’s not nothing

I thought I made that clear from the start

I LIKE you

My heart kicks against my ribs, like it’s trying to get out. I stare at the words, trying to think of something smooth or interesting to respond with, but I’ve got nothing. I don’t do games, I never have, so I just say what I want to ask.

Me: