Page 152 of Accidental Husband

Again, he nods. "You do." He intertwines his fingers with mine. "I do too."

"I do not."

"Yeah?" His lips brush mine. "That's why you're smiling?"

"I just…"

"Yeah?"

"This is really perfect." I want it to last forever. I want him to keep looking at me like that.

Will he keep looking at me like that after I tell him?

Chapter Thirty-Five

Juliette

It echoes through my head.

I need to tell him.

We walk around the fake Venice, lose a hundred dollars at the Blackjack table, grab dinner at a Mexican chain on The Strip, alternate between melting in the desert heat and freezing in the hotel AC on the way to our casino.

I need to tell him.

There are plenty of ways to extend tonight. Shows, bars, arcades, tattoo shops, slot machines.

But all those roads lead to the same place.

I need to tell him.

He intertwines his fingers with mine. Steps into the elevator. Hits the button for our floor.

I press my back against the mirrored wall, but it doesn't give me any space to think.

There are three strangers in here—two drunk guys escorting a completely plastered friend.

The taller guy gives me a long, slow once over. His eyes stop on my chest. My lips. My thighs.

It's not like I hide my scars. Not all of them. Not the faded ones Griff knows about.

The others—

I got smarter about where I did it.

As long as I wear shorts with a few extra inches and avoid walking around in skimpy bikini bottoms, I keep these secret.

Even from Jackson.

He's seen the old ones too. But these—

They're mine.

I needed them to be mine.

It's not a logical thing. It's not like I woke up one day and thoughtyou know what would really be fun: if I started dragging a blade against my skin?I better hold that close to the vest, because the secret is half the thrill.

The first time I tried it, I didn't know what I was doing. I was hurt and overwhelmed and confused and I didn't know how to make sense of everything.