Drowning in Love - Kelsie Rae Page 0,31

pressures of life weigh too much. I want to be able to rely on someone.

Could Gage be that someone? Even if it were in another life?

I want the damn brownies with the shell-free eggs mixed in. I want something beautiful. And real. Something that probably doesn’t exist with a guy like Gage no matter how badly I want it to.

Concern radiates from him as he watches my expression turn hazy with vulnerability. His mouth opens as if he wants to say something before it snaps closed. Gritting his teeth, he bends a little closer and rests his forehead against mine.

There’s a myriad of emotions flashing across his face like a projector, but I can’t quite place them. Frustration. Anxiety. Humility. But above all, determination. I just don’t know what it’s for.

Is he frustrated with me? Am I the one making him anxious? Did Dr. Lorringer’s little therapy session knock his arrogance down a few pegs, even though I think he’s sexy as hell when he’s sure of himself? And why is he so determined? Does he want to back out of our deal? Can he tell that I’m getting attached? That I could see us becoming brownies instead of just watered-down batter? That I might want that even though it wasn’t part of the plan?

“Shhh,” he breathes. The sound is so quiet that it likely only traveled a handful of inches before getting lost in the spacious room. But it’s enough to ease the ache in my chest. I want to close my eyes. I want to run. But I want to stay even more. And that’s what scares me the most.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dr. Lorringer murmurs. Her relatively quiet voice sounds amplified in the silence. “If you feel comfortable, I’d like you to kiss your partner. For most of you, those stubborn shells have cracked in the last few minutes. Now it’s time to mix those insecurities together and to come out on the other side with something sweeter and richer than when you walked into this room.”

The lights are still turned down low, and the audience is still lost in their own little worlds. With his forehead still pressed to mine, Gage untangles our hands before gliding them up my arms. His touch is softer than a feather. If I hadn’t been so aware of his movements, I probably wouldn’t even register it before he cups my cheeks.

My lungs are useless as his mouth descends on mine, but as soon as our lips touch, I’m a goner. His kiss is gentle. Cautious. Foreign. It’s the complete opposite of our kiss on the boardwalk but just as crippling. It’s like a dance that I learned in a previous life but wasn’t aware of how much I missed it until the song came on. My fingers dig into his forearms as I keep him in place, praying he never ends this kiss because it’s not like anything I’ve ever experienced before.

It’s…more.

It isn’t just two mouths pressing together. It’s so much deeper than that.

And I want it all.

Which is what urges me to push him away. Catching my breath, I squeeze my eyes shut and count to ten even though I can feel his eyes on me.

When I finally gain the courage to peek up at him, I laugh quietly, “Whoa.”

Relieved, he joins in. “Yeah. Whoa. You okay?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You sure?”

Licking my lips, I plaster a fake smile to my face. “Yup. Who knew brownie batter tasted so good, right?”

His eyes dim before he drops his hands from my cheeks, making me miss their heat instantly. “Yeah. Who knew?”

The rest of the workshop goes by in a blur while I try to keep my emotions in check, which is damn near impossible. Gem would be so proud.

As soon as Dr. Lorringer finishes, I turn to Gage. “I completely forgot that I have to set some stuff up with Gem for tomorrow, so I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Wait––”

“Sorry, gotta run!”

Then I’m out the door faster than a senior on graduation day. I need to breathe, and I just realized I can’t do that when I’m around him.

I need to find Gem.

12

Nora

I spot Gem chatting with Conner in the Spin-the-Bottle room after our little therapy session. When she sees me, she waves me over.

“Hey! I didn’t expect to see you. How did––”

Grabbing her forearm, I whisper, “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

“Umm…sure? Let me just––”

“Now, Gem.”

Her eyebrows pinch together as she scans my face. After a second, she nods and turns back