Status Updates From Spiral (Off the Ice, #2)

"It's not just that. It's like no matter what I do, no matter how much I try, 'll always be scraping by. I'm a goddamn mess."
"You're my mess."

My neck aches from our awkward position, but I can't find it in me to move or care when she looks at me like she's mapping an entire constellation with her eyes.

"I've never said you were difficult, Sage. You're definitely not easy, but I like that about you."

"Then why can't you look at me. It's like you can't stand the sight of me."

"At the risk of saying too much, I don't want to look at you too long because I like it too much."

"It's never going to be just a kiss for me. Once I do this, Sage, I won't be able to stop."

"You shouldn't look at me like that, you know," Sage says.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm yours to look at."
"What if I want to?"
She pauses. "Then you can do a lot more than just look, West-brook."

"You don't seem like the dancing type."
"I'm not. But you are," I say, pressing a kiss in her hair that I don't think she feels.

You know you're hot, Elias. People beg you on a daily basis to take your shirt off."
"Is that what you want to hear, Sage? How hot I think you look in this dress and how much better it would look sliding off your body?"
"Who knew after breaking you out of your shell you'd become such a flirt?"
"I guess it just takes the right woman to come along."
"And I'm the right woman?"
"The perfect one."

"You look beautiful. Unreal."
"Oh," she squeaks. "In that case you look pretty unreal too."

"Don't be scared, Elias. I don't bite," she teases.
I step into her orbit and lean forward to nip her earlobe. "I do."

"Your extra glue and crystals."
I's the pack left at home, "Why did you bring them?

"You told me that one time they came off before you even got onstage and how upset you were. I didn't want that happening again."

"An eleven. You were amaz-ing. I googled all the moves, and you hit every single point."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because you second-guess yourself and think you're doing terribly onstage when you're not. Just in case you forgot, I wanted to be the one to remind you."

"What happened to the no-flowers rule?"
"I didn't like it."
I scoff. "That's not fair. What about the rules I don't like?"
"Why?" He takes a step closer. "You think you'll need a good luck kiss?"
"Wouldn't be the end of the world." The silence breeds anticipation in my thumping heart.
"Might be,"

"When are you going to learn that I'm incapable of saying no to you?"

"Now, go out with your team and celebrate the win. Paparazzi be damned!"
"What if they spin a story? I don't want anyone to question whether I'm faithful to you."
"Let them. I'll be more than happy to remind everyone that you're in a happy committed relationship with the love of your life."
"Love of my life, eh?"
There's a pause. "Give or take."

She leans forward, and bluff or not, the only thing I know for sure in that moment is I'm truly fucked. Sage takes my thumb in her mouth and seals her lips around it. She hums when her hot tongue touches the syrup and licks it clean before she takes me deeper.

"What? Want me to lick it off?"
I lift my hand and hold it between us on the table. My thumb is inches away from where her lips are parted in shock, and the silent challenge dangles between us.

I let her try on her own until she lifts her leg to climb onto the counter. I lower the heat of the stove to move behind her.
She stumbles into my chest. I reach an arm around her to grab a stack of plates.
"I could have reached them," she mutters, sounding breathless.
"I think you mean thank you."

"Does it help you too? Having someone here, I mean."
"I wouldn't know. This is a first for me," he replies.
"You've never just slept with someone?"
"Never. But I'm beginning to think you'll always be the exception."

"You always smell like vanilla." I can feel his voice in my hair. It
makes me shiver.
1 give an awkward chuckle, unsure what exactly is happening between us right now. Is this an invitation? Is vanilla a code word?
Should I take off my clothes?
His contented sigh is all I hear, like somehow my lotion has put a spell on him.

Sage from a few minutes ago was a complete idiot.
I scoot closer, leaving plenty of space for the Holy Spirit. But as I'm frozen in place, he pulls me against him.

“You want me to caption it "best part of my day'?" I read her text, trying to hold back a laugh. "A bit presumptuous, don't you think?"

"Drop the no-kissing rule, and it'll be true."

Elias stops walking and stands in front of me with his back turned.
I stare at the dark T-shirt stretched across his back. "Come on."
I balk. "You want to carry me?"
"We both know it's not the first time."

"Is this how we're always going to end our night?"
"Me pressed against you?" I hold him a little tighter. "God, I hope so."
He chuckles. "There she is."

"What do you want me to do?"
I'm surprised at his response. He's just given me a world of op-portunities, and I can't contain my wicked smile. "Beg."
"Excuse me?"
"I want you to beg. Extra points if you get on your knees." He raises a brow. "Is this fueling some fantasy of yours?"
"My fantasies are a lot more graphic than that, Elias."

"Yes, Sage, you were right."
"Wait." I pull out my phone. "Can you say that again? I'll make it my voicemail. And alarm. And ringtone."

"Yeah, this is our thing," Elias says, putting his arm on the back of my chair. "She makes me jealous, and I punish her for it at home."

"She's my girlfriend," I blurt. "And I won't entertain any disrespect toward her. So, that's all the questions I'll answer about my personal life."