“More,” Dean grumbles. “Would you run away with me if I asked?”
My blood flow pauses. Sound around me ceases to exist.
My head whips around. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“We… can’t.”
“Who said?” He raises a brow.
He’s serious.
Elisabeth quietly squeals, shaking her clay-covered fists likemaracas. “There’s a sink there. I’ll distract her, but hurry!”
I don’t have time to think. Dean pulls me up. Somehow we washedanddried our hands, then we dart out of the store.
He doesn’t hop in the car.How gentlemanly of him to leave it for Lois.
Instead, he startsrunning.
And me? I’m holding his hand, running alongside him.
“This is crazy!” Wind blows in my hair as we run through streets, passing small shops, people on bikes, cars honking. The sun shines above us. Molten lava, some kind of colour that burns down my back.
I’m laughing.
He’s smiling.
“Where are we going?!” I yell again when he swoops us through more streets. My chest burns, but adrenaline andhimkeep me going.
Dean turns his head wearing a full-blown smile. “I don’t know!”
I shake my head while laughing. It doesn’t matter where we go because I trust him.
He stops somewhere.
We’re breathing—heaving.
Calves aching. Stomachs cramping.
Dean turns around to look at me and without waiting, I wrap my arms around him.
His body is rock hard everywhere. Not a single part of Dean makes me want to let go. He’s perfect to me. In every way possible.
He doesn’t return the hug. He stands still, completely frozen.
I messed up.
Pulling away, embarrassment flooding my cheeks. “Sorry, I… wasn’t thinking.”
I don’t dare look at him.
“Come here,” he rumbles.
I shake my head. “No, I’m good here. Thanks.”
“Nova,” he warns.
