The Burning Shadow (Origin 2)

That made sense, and it made me think that Luc had a lot of experience sneaking around places he shouldn’t be. And I wanted to see Heidi something fierce. We’d texted throughout the day, and she sounded like her normal self, but I needed to see her with my own eyes. “Sounds like a plan.”

Backing out of the parking spot, I kept my eyes on the busy parking lot.

“Anything interesting happen today at school?”

I shook my head as I lowered the window, letting the cool autumn air roll through the car. “Not really. No one seemed to think anything about April not being at school. Her group was protesting this morning.”

He stared out the passenger window, hands resting on his bent knees. His profile was striking, especially in the bright autumn sun. It was criminal to wear a knit beanie so damn well.

“Hopefully they’ll find a new hobby,” he said.

“One would hope, but I doubt it. It’s like April woke something up in them, gave them something to blame all their problems on.”

Luc nodded slowly. “I was trying to be optimistic.”

I snorted. “Well, I’m just being realistic.”

“Peaches?”

My heart skipped. “Yeah?”

“The light is green, so…” He looked over at me, lips turned up at the corners. “You’re going to need to stop staring at me and drive.”

I blinked, flushing. “Oh. Yeah. You’re right.”

Luc chuckled.* * *Heidi had looked like she’d spent a month at a spa, skin glowing and her appetite utterly staggering. Even compared to mine. She’d downed the burger Kent had brought up from the kitchen and three cupcakes that had come from one of the nearby bakeries.

I’d eaten two cupcakes, and probably would’ve had more if Kent hadn’t swiped the last two on his way out.

I spent the better part of the afternoon with Heidi and Emery, and it wasn’t until the sun began to set that there was a knock on Emery’s door. Figuring it was Luc and he was ready to engage in a little breaking and entering, my stomach was twisted in knots as I gave Heidi a kiss on the cheek and hugged Emery, the latter returning the gesture with the awkwardness of all non-huggers in the world.

Then I stepped out into the hallway. Luc had ditched the knit beanie and sunglasses, and his bronze, messy waves were adorably sticking up in every direction.

“Hey.” I felt weirdly shy as I clasped my hands together.

His gaze trekked over my face. “How was Heidi?”

“Perfect. Like she’s been on a monthlong vacation. Even Emery doesn’t look exhausted.”

One side of his mouth kicked up. “That’s what love will do.”

My gaze lifted to his, and he pushed off the wall. I didn’t know exactly what to do as he closed the distance between us. The night before, I’d been brazen and confident, but a timidness crept into me as he stopped in front of me. It was like I’d never been in a relationship before, and even though we hadn’t bestowed labels on each other, I knew that was what we were trying to do.

Maybe it was because now I was in a relationship that mattered and that was why this felt different? Like it was the first everything?

His gaze caught mine, and I looked away, letting out a shaky laugh. “I’m sorry. I’m being weird. It’s just that I don’t know how to act now.”

“Just be yourself,” he said, catching a strand of hair and tucking it back behind my ear. “Or be a unicorn. One of the two.”

I laughed again. “You’re bizarre.”

“Bizarrely charming,” he corrected, his hand lingering behind my ear. “Ready?”

I started to nod but stopped. “You and me. We’re doing this, right? The together thing? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?” Warmth crept into my cheeks. “I haven’t said anything to Zoe or Heidi, because I just … I don’t know. Wanted to make sure that’s what we are?”

Luc stared at me so long I began to get a little worried. Then he leaned in, bringing his mouth close to my ear. “If you have to ask that, then maybe I wasn’t clear enough last night. There is only you and me. Boyfriend. Girlfriend. Mates. Lovers,” he said, and muscles low in my stomach curled tight. “I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me yours.”

God.

God.

I melted right there, dropping my forehead to his chest. His hand slipped around to the nape of my neck.

“Okay?” he said. “Am I clear now?”

“Yes,” I said to his chest.

“You ready, then?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve got to lift your face off my chest first.”

“Right.”

He chuckled, and then I lifted my head.

“It’s okay,” he said.

“What is?”

“To be nervous.”

My gaze found his. “About what we’re going to do tonight?”

“Well, yeah, about that, but I’m saying it’s okay to be nervous or not know how to act because of us,” he said. “I’m nervous, too.”