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He nods, more to himself “Can you see out of it?”
My eyelid droops, and it hurts to lift it up “A bit”
Lo nods again, but this tiaze flashes es for assault You can stay here with the other bodyguards and wait for our lawyers When you’re finished, you can meet us at my office” Lo is so assured, no indecisiveness or need to turn to his father or a friend
After Garth agrees, alk to the elevators, and Lo’s confidence never vanishes I inspect my face in the shiny elevator door while ait
It’s worse than I thought A giant red welt covers half my face The bottoers through th hair, at least hopeful that the strands aren’t greasy today
You’re not a total mess See
Lo cohts that could easily turn into sexual fantasies Don’t space out
It’s not like I have in a while, but I still need to remind myself He wraps his arms around my waist and sets his chin on my shoulder I ease back into his chest “Mmmm” I freeze Did I make that sound aloud?
Lo whispers in the pit of ht?”
He means about sex In stressful situations, I cope with sex—but everyone already knows this by now, unless you like to skip our sad stuff
“I think I’ onto his bicep, basically saying don’t let go of me
He doesn’t
But he does kiss hter
The elevator dings, and we slide inside He pushes one of the buttons, and the doors shut, finally granting us a sliver of privacy
I face hiain “I can’t believe that happened…pinch me”
He pinches the skin on my elbow
“Ouch” I wince and rub my arm “Why can’t this be a dream?”
“Come on, Lil You wouldn’t want this in your dreaasms”
He’s right “You’re so right”
His gaze finds ain “Next episode of We Are Calloway, I’ idiot—see how he likes to be called the dick-thrower for the rest of his life”
The docu-series remindsthought attached to my little sister has been Daisy is alive
My eyes start welling
Daisy is alive
I wasn’t certain I’d ever see her again She al birth, and that day in the hospital hit all of us like a co into Earth Rose, the backbone of our sisterhood, was inconsolable I couldn’t speak I re like soh school and college years pushing ht of Daisy being ripped away
I blink back tears Before Lo notices hts and try to recall what he said The docu-series We’ve only released one episode of our new docu-series so far, but all the articles have been positive since it aired We’re all eager to film more soon
“All the other fans were nice outside” A girl started crying when I sht I could bring someone that level of happiness
It felt good
Lo wraps his arm across my shoulders, and atch the numbers increase on the elevator monitor Swanky jazzdetours
I wonder, “You’re not going to be eht?”
Lo looks at rown antennas
“I mean,” I say quickly, “it’s just that I’ve obviously been punched” I point to my face “And in a few minutes, the neill relay hoas a penis that punched me Not to mention, I’m your wife, so all of your e his as just punched by a penis”
The elevator suddenly halts, and the doors spring open A forty-so man in a suit and tomen in business-casual dresses stand on the other side Waiting
Lo says bitingly, “These are taken” He taps the closed doors button incessantly, and when they shut, he hits the stop elevator button
My eyes widen like he’s the crazy one here “Now they’re going to think we’re having sex on the elevator” The fact that I’m a sex addict is so much a part of me that I don’t shy from it anymore I only care because I don’t want to ues I know none of us can escape gossip, but I just want to be a positive force in his life
As Lo looks at me and as I look at Lo, I see the little boy who chased me around m
y faer who relentlessly teased ue in s after drinking bourbon Who held me as I fell fast asleep
I see my best friend
With his sharp features and daggered gaze, he snaps, “First of all, no one is thinking his as just punched by a penis”
“I am”
He cocks his head “You’re Lily Hale Ninety-nine percent of your thoughts are certified original”
I smile “What about the one percent?”
“That’s when you and I are thinking the sa” He draws me to his chest, his hands on my shoulders
His strength courses through vital parts of my soul, and I inhale a heartier breath We’re so ether than we are separate I wouldn’t have said that at our beginning, but now, it’s truer than anything I know
“Secondly,” he says with that faet punched by a penis Some dipshit threw it at you And it was fake”
“Solid point” I nod and then cringe “I do feel kind of badly though Like, your dick has been the only one to touchand…”
He’s glaring The type of Loren Hale glare that could wither ancient gardens and set fire to cities “No, you did not cheat on ” He pauses for a second and then reaches into his pocket “Do you need to call your therapist? Because if you feel violated, Lil, then this is a whole other issue”
I frown Do I? “Maybe later” Dr Banning has a way of putting everything into perspective, and after seven years, she’s been a trusted ally “I think I could use soet punched”
He wears this pained look like I’m hurt, not just physically “Lil—”
“I know I didn’t get punched, but it sounds cooler than having so with this ood news: our son is with et hit in the crossfire This is what I care about most
“Okay” Lo gives in “Then you got punched, but I’ it a penis”
“A dildo?”
He cringes “Lets call it the thing We don’t need to give that shitty fuck a creative name for his weapon”