Page 111 of Healing Conviction

His voice was deep and low as he turned back to face the road. “You’re pretty easy to please, Pix.”

“Or maybe you’re just good at it.”

She turned back to her food, trying her best to hold back all her emotions for a little while longer. Her chest was full of those three words that she’d been too afraid to say to him. She was dying to say them right then, but she wasn’t sure if it was actually the right time. The kiss had obviously helped lighten the mood, but had it been enough? Would he still think she was doing it to appease him?

Brain, you are screwing things up. Chill out. Eat our waffle.

The deliciousness in front of her was dark brown from the syrup oversaturating it and she decided to table the decision for then. A grin widened on her face as she took the plasticware from the middle console and dove in, carefully making sure not to poke a hole in the bottom of the box.

“I amstarving.” She stuffed her mouth full of a huge bite of waffle and moaned again, taking her time to chew and taste before swallowing. “This is amazeballs. Leftover waffles and syrup is now officially theonlyway to eat waffles. It’s soaked all the way through, and so juicy I could literally come right here. You want a bite?” She turned with the next bite already on her fork but when she faced Drake, his hands were all but crushing the steering wheel, his eyes solely on the road. “Uh… you okay, handsome?”

He coughed and cleared his throat. “Yup.”

She frowned and ate, talking around her mouthful. “You sure? You look a little… murder-y.”

He shifted in his seat like he was uncomfortable. “Just driving.”

Eyes narrowed, she watched him as she took another slow bite of waffle. He glanced over at her and when she licked her lips, he did the same. Her squeezing chest had absolutely nothing to do with the smoke inhalation.

If she was going to say this—and she definitely wanted to—she wanted to do it right. But her brain was going haywire. When was the best time?

Isit now?

Not if he’s in a sassy ass mood…

Or is that the perfect time?

Heck, I don’t know. I’ve never freaking done this before!

What does he want? Would he want to hear it now?

Ugh… whatever. No more thinking. No more analyzing. Do what I feel.

But how do I feel?

Oh my gods! Shut up, already, brain! I’ve got this.

She exhaled, cleared her mind, and let her heart come out to play. “Just driving, huh?”

“Yup.”

She used her fork to point to the long stretch of road absolutely free from cars. “You get road rage on empty streets often?”

He huffed and gritted through his teeth. “I’m just… concentrating.”

She danced her fork at him before singing her next words and stuffing her mouth. “Mm-kay-ay. But for the record, I donotbelieve you.”

The syrup hit her tongue, and she moaned again, even louder, testing her theory. She stared at him, watching in awe as the muscles in his left forearm tensed underneath his dragon ouroboros tattoo.

Bingo.

“You’ve gotta be fucking doing this shit on purpose.”

She paused before continuing her show. “And if I was? What would you do about it, handsome?”

“Fuck, Nora, I’m being respectful. You’re hurt because of me—”

“Drake, you drama king.” She pulled her shirt up to her shoulders and turned to show him the mild scrapes and bandages. “Look, it’s barely anything. It stings, but it’s just a few scratches.” She pulled her shirt down and caught his heated gaze on her again, but he snapped his eyes back to the road. A mischievous sense of satisfaction rolled through her, and she cleared her throat before hiding her smile. “So, compared to the alternative, I’d say I came out on top. I mean, I thought I was gonna see God there for a sec.”