Page 110 of Consumed By You

I gulp, a tight, exquisite pain flaring in my chest. “You did?”

“Yes.” He grins. “Surprisingly, I liked it.”

I blink multiple times, trying to force the tears back into my skull. He did thisfor me…

“I’m not surprised,” I reply, smirking slightly.

“Do you like it? I didn’t know everyone was going to see it. I’m sorry if you’re embarrassed.”

“I’m not embarrassed, just shocked. This was the best gift anyone could have ever given me.”

He smiles widely at that. “I’m glad. I wanted to give you something you’d cherish.”

“I will.” I nod, tracing the indents on the cover.

The group reemerges with a large cake and begins singing happy birthday loudly and very much out of key.

I can’t remember a better day than this.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I have to get going, Darcy.” Luke treads over to the doorway, where I just said goodbye to half of the party. He smiles, far more gracious than I deserve him to be considering the manic occurrences that seem to follow me day through night. He must be suffering from a serious case of whiplash.

“So soon?”

“Yeah, I think it’s time to go.” He puts on his jacket, his attention on Benjamin talking to Doris in the corner. “I know he probably wants to talk with you.”

“In other words, you don’t want to see me anymore?”

“You have a lot of unsolved business with him, and you should figure out what you want before we start anything.”

I hate the look in his eyes, but I find myself unable to fight to keep him here. “I understand.”

“You have my number, Darcy. Call when you’re ready. I’ll be there.”

His lips are gentle upon my forehead. “Happy birthday.”

I feel uneasy when he twists away, probably because I know I’m most likely not going to see him again.

“Goodbye,” I say. He shuts the front door behind him.

“So…he’s gone?”

Kevin is leaning against the wall and probably saw the whole conversation.

“Yeah, he’s gone.”

“Is it because of what happened at dinner?” He draws me into his hard body, king of finding a way to pick me off the floor even in my lowest moments. I lean into his lanky athletic torso, sucking in a calculated inhale.

“Yes.”

“You seem okay with it.”

I contemplate it for a moment, bobbing my head with acceptance. “I think I am. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

“Well, I don’t know if you want to hear this, but I’m not so sure about the whole Benjamin-not-loving-you part anymore.”

My eyes dart to Benjamin. “I’m not so sure anymore, either. He seems different.”