Page 86 of Puck Me Back to Life

I point at him. “No.”

“Interesting choice of words, Hayes.”

My entire soul attempts to leave my body. Ash looks delighted.

I hate him.

I hate him so much.

“Goodbye, Ash.” I walk toward the front door before he can say anything else.

His laughter follows me. I make it all the way to the entrance. Hand on the doorknob. One foot practically outside. Then I stop. Because something feels unfinished.

I stare at the door. Then I swear under my breath. Turn around and walk back. Ash looks confused. Which is rare enough to be satisfying.

“What did you forget?”

I don't answer. I step into his space. His eyebrows lift and before I can think myself out of it, I grab the front of his sweatshirt and kiss him.

For one glorious second, Ash is genuinely caught off guard. Completely frozen. Then his hand finds my waist. The coffee mug gets abandoned somewhere behind him. His other hand slides into my hair. The kiss deepens. Warm and certain. The kind that makes my thoughts disappear. The kind I'm starting to crave.

Eventually I pull back. Ash doesn't let me get very far. His forehead rests briefly against mine.

His eyes are darker now, focused entirely on me.

“Well.” His voice is rough. “Didn't see that coming.”

“Don't get used to it.”

A smile tugs at his mouth. Too confident. Too fucking pleased with himself.

“I'll text you later.”

Ash studies me for a second like he's deciding whether he believes me.

Then one hand lands lightly against my hip as I turn toward the door again. “Not later.”

I glance over my shoulder.

“You'll text me when you get home.”

The possessiveness in the statement should bother me. It doesn't. Maybe it should. Maybe there is something wrong with me. Ash's expression doesn't leave room for argument.

I stare at him.

Then shake my head. “You're ridiculous.”

“Text me.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “Fine.”

“Good.”

I open the door, letting the morning air hit my face.

For the first time in a long time, walking back into my own life feels harder than it should.

And when the door closes behind me, I already know exactly what's going to happen.