Page 49

I put one hand up.

“Hold on. You were pretending to dislike me? You were just acting?” This revelation was breaking my brain.

“I mean, sure, I definitely had a little bit of irritation over how everything went down with us, but that was more irritation at myself for being such a dick. I messed with you because I love winding you up. You get so cute and huffy.”

I opened my mouth and gaped at her. It was as if she’d turned the entire world upside down.

“I’m so confused right now. I thought you were just an asshole,” I said.

Echo lifted one shoulder. “I mean, I’m still kind of an asshole.”

“A hot asshole.”

“You’re hot,” she said with a smile, planting a hot kiss on my lips. That led to us making out in the shower so long that the hot water ran out and we yelped to get out and dry ourselves off with towels.

“Since it’s like, almost morning and I’m not an asshole, you’re absolutely welcome to stay. Or I could call you a car to take you home. I’m chivalrous like that.”

Echo used the towel to wring out her long hair.

“Oh, are you now? I think I’ll stay. Your bed is nicer than mine and I have the day off,” she said.

I had no idea where she lived, or what the place looked like. There was still so much that I didn’t know about Echo Rosenthal.

I didn’t know if I was going to have a chance to find out. Everything about the two of us was unknown, except for what was happening in the present moment and, right now, I needed some fucking sleep.

“I can lend you some clothes, but I think you might break my shirts,” I said.

“That’s okay, I don’t want to Hulk your clothes.”

That image was unbearably funny for some reason and I couldn't stop laughing.

“You need to get to bed, you’re silly from the sex,” Echo said, pushing me toward the bed. In the end, we both got under the covers naked, because it seemed rude to wear pajamas when she didn’t have any with her.

“Did you set an alarm?” Echo asked as my eyes drifted closed. I was so tired, I didn’t even know if I could fall asleep. Too much work.

“Uh huh,” I said, reaching for my phone on the nightstand and then turning on a few alarms.

“Good,” she said with a sigh. “Goodnight?”

I opened one eye and looked at her. “Why did that sound like a question?”

“Because it’s not really night anymore.” The light had changed during our carnal activities and now the room was filled with that soft blue-gray light that heralded the coming of the sun. The next few days were going to be rough, but I didn’t have any regrets.

Yet.

“Well, what do you want to say? Goodalmostmorning?”

“Sounds good,” she said. “Goodalmostmorning, Kiri.” She kissed my forehead and I puckered my lips to ask for a mouth kiss. Echo gave me one and I was asleep mere seconds later.