Emily’s ear. Was this a game to him?
Oh god. A game. Gyrfalcon took Thorton on as a double agent.
The Governor then seduced Cora Osprey to get back at Gyrfalcon. It all made a
hideous sort of sense!
No. I was paranoid. Emily wouldn’t fall for a sweet-talking
guy. Russell cared for her.
If only I could pass it off as part of the game!
“Stop thinking what you’re thinking. Let’s go somewhere
quiet where you can relax.” Dean kissed my forehead and led me down the hall.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?” I narrowed my eyes, but
couldn’t hold the expression. I needed him. Not in the sexy way, but that was
always good. In the having someone to lean on and understand me sort of way.
“You’re tense. And you tend to jump to the worst possible
conclusions first.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but swiftly shut it. Okay,
maybe I did do that. My inner psychologist said I did it as a way of saving
myself from disappointment. Blah, blah, blah.
So why couldn’t I just be happy for Emily and Russell?
Because they were insane!
That wasn’t fair. They were both smart individuals. A little
dramatic and emotional. A little as in saying Jupiter was a tiny planet.
“Talk to me. What’s going on in that pretty head?” Dean led
me down a much less crowded corridor. “You know, if you’re worried about what
she said about you and me, don’t. No one can know where our relationship is
headed except you and me. We’re the ones who can make it work or screw it up.”
I stopped and gazed at him. Smart and gorgeous. How did I
get so lucky?
I kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you for that.”
If only I could lose myself in his eyes forever. With him,
nothing else mattered.
Actually, everything mattered. I wanted him in my life. How
were we going to make our relationship work if we lived so far from one
another? Both of us worked and went to school. It wasn’t as if we’d have a lot
of time to stare at each other over Skype. Definitely no time to travel that
distance back and forth often.
“You kissed me and then got sad. Do I taste funny? I swear I
didn’t eat that many sushi rolls at dinner.” Dean scooted us to the edge of the
hall, leaning against the wall with me as he caressed my cheek.
Goose bumps erupted over my arms. I tried to smile, but
couldn’t. “You’re right about what you said. And I really want for us to work.”
Really, really wanted it! “But long-distance relationships, they don’t last. I’ve
seen them fail again and again. I found the most perfect guy in the world, and
he lives a whole huge state away.”
My vision blurred. I held back the tears, just barely. My
heart felt as though it lodged itself in my throat. Why couldn’t I ever have
the happy ending?
“We don’t know it won’t last. We’ll both be done with school
in a year. It’s not that long. It isn’t even a full year. It’s nine months.”
There was a warbling edge to his voice. My arms wound around him. Why hadn’t I
thought it was hard on him too? How could I be so selfish?
“No, it isn’t that long.” There. I said it. Easier said than
done, of course, but if he could be strong about this, then I could too.
“We can call each other, Skype, email. Visit on the
holidays, and try for some weekends too.”
“And write letters. I’ve always liked real letters.” I
smiled.
“Yeah, me too.” Dean kissed me, nuzzling our noses.
Then just as intimately, I added, “I’m really going to miss
Gandalf, though.”
Dean’s eyes lit up as he laughed. He pinned me to the wall
and kissed me more deeply. “Not half as much as he’s going to miss you.”
Flames of desire scorched my flesh. I could not get enough
of this guy. His body was hard against mine as I ran my hands up his sides. I
would have this last night of the convention with him and enjoy it most
thoroughly.
His cell rang, and he started, pulling back from me. Dean
took the phone out of his pocket, and his lips thinned. “Sorry.
Oh god. A game. Gyrfalcon took Thorton on as a double agent.
The Governor then seduced Cora Osprey to get back at Gyrfalcon. It all made a
hideous sort of sense!
No. I was paranoid. Emily wouldn’t fall for a sweet-talking
guy. Russell cared for her.
If only I could pass it off as part of the game!
“Stop thinking what you’re thinking. Let’s go somewhere
quiet where you can relax.” Dean kissed my forehead and led me down the hall.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?” I narrowed my eyes, but
couldn’t hold the expression. I needed him. Not in the sexy way, but that was
always good. In the having someone to lean on and understand me sort of way.
“You’re tense. And you tend to jump to the worst possible
conclusions first.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but swiftly shut it. Okay,
maybe I did do that. My inner psychologist said I did it as a way of saving
myself from disappointment. Blah, blah, blah.
So why couldn’t I just be happy for Emily and Russell?
Because they were insane!
That wasn’t fair. They were both smart individuals. A little
dramatic and emotional. A little as in saying Jupiter was a tiny planet.
“Talk to me. What’s going on in that pretty head?” Dean led
me down a much less crowded corridor. “You know, if you’re worried about what
she said about you and me, don’t. No one can know where our relationship is
headed except you and me. We’re the ones who can make it work or screw it up.”
I stopped and gazed at him. Smart and gorgeous. How did I
get so lucky?
I kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you for that.”
If only I could lose myself in his eyes forever. With him,
nothing else mattered.
Actually, everything mattered. I wanted him in my life. How
were we going to make our relationship work if we lived so far from one
another? Both of us worked and went to school. It wasn’t as if we’d have a lot
of time to stare at each other over Skype. Definitely no time to travel that
distance back and forth often.
“You kissed me and then got sad. Do I taste funny? I swear I
didn’t eat that many sushi rolls at dinner.” Dean scooted us to the edge of the
hall, leaning against the wall with me as he caressed my cheek.
Goose bumps erupted over my arms. I tried to smile, but
couldn’t. “You’re right about what you said. And I really want for us to work.”
Really, really wanted it! “But long-distance relationships, they don’t last. I’ve
seen them fail again and again. I found the most perfect guy in the world, and
he lives a whole huge state away.”
My vision blurred. I held back the tears, just barely. My
heart felt as though it lodged itself in my throat. Why couldn’t I ever have
the happy ending?
“We don’t know it won’t last. We’ll both be done with school
in a year. It’s not that long. It isn’t even a full year. It’s nine months.”
There was a warbling edge to his voice. My arms wound around him. Why hadn’t I
thought it was hard on him too? How could I be so selfish?
“No, it isn’t that long.” There. I said it. Easier said than
done, of course, but if he could be strong about this, then I could too.
“We can call each other, Skype, email. Visit on the
holidays, and try for some weekends too.”
“And write letters. I’ve always liked real letters.” I
smiled.
“Yeah, me too.” Dean kissed me, nuzzling our noses.
Then just as intimately, I added, “I’m really going to miss
Gandalf, though.”
Dean’s eyes lit up as he laughed. He pinned me to the wall
and kissed me more deeply. “Not half as much as he’s going to miss you.”
Flames of desire scorched my flesh. I could not get enough
of this guy. His body was hard against mine as I ran my hands up his sides. I
would have this last night of the convention with him and enjoy it most
thoroughly.
His cell rang, and he started, pulling back from me. Dean
took the phone out of his pocket, and his lips thinned. “Sorry.
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