PERCY.
I snatched my phone from the bedside table, rolling my eyes at the screen. Of course it was Penelope. She has the timing of a villain in a badly written movie.
"Hello, Pen " I spoke into the phone, trying to keep my voice even and steady, which was difficult considering my heart was hammering against my ribcage like a caged beast.
Penelope didn't bother with a greeting. Her voice, sharp and stressed, blasted through the speaker.
"Percy! Do you have any idea how complicated you just made my life? I spent more than thirty minutes explaining to our Mother and Father why you've suddenly decided to go off-grid in some tiny town without any prior notice! I had to assure them you weren't running away from home and changing your name to start a company somewhere!"
I frowned. "That's a bit dramatic, even for you, Pen. I told them I was visiting a friend for a couple of days."
"Yes, but which friend? Our parents don't know about Gemini, remember? And what with all the dramatic secrecy anyway? Look," she continued, her tone shifting to a low warning, "I've covered for you. I told them you needed a mental break after exams and that you were doing 'deep, necessary reflection.' But you better win his heart before you come back, Percy. I am not doing this again just so you can screw things up by being a confusing jerk! Better get it right this time."
I sighed, pushing myself off the bed so I wasn't still hovering over Gemini. The tension was still high, and my body was thrumming with the need to reconnect with him, to finish what we started.
I didn't tell her about the kiss. Of course not. That was sacred, and frankly, she'd only start planning our wedding. I definitely didn't tell her she'd just interrupted me kissing him, again.
Oh, God, the taste of him. It was so much better than I imagined—soft, sweet, and completely responsive. I want...I need to kiss him again. I want to pull him back to me right now, press him into the mattress, and forget about the outside world and my parents and just make him mine.
I think I'm already addicted to him.
Penelope's voice dragged me out of the spiral thoughts.
"Percy? Are you even listening to me? Are you two okay? Does he need anything? Did you at least apologize for being such an idiot?"
"We're fine, Pen," I reassured her, trying to sound calm and collected. Things between are actually progressing better than intended. "Yes, I've apologized plenty, and we are fine. We don't need anything."
"Good," she said, sounding slightly mollified. "Just don't make me lie to a federal agency or start dating a model just to keep mother off your back. Call me when you're coming back."
"Will do. Bye, Pen." I hung up, dropped the phone onto the nightstand, and let out a long, slow breath.
I turned back to the bed. Gemini hadn't moved. The chaos of the phone call and the adrenaline of the near-kiss must have been too much after a long day of walking and dealing with his ridiculous ex-classmates. He had completely slept off.
He was curled slightly on his side, his breathing even and quiet. His lips looked soft and faintly bruised from our intense make-out at the riverbank. I reached out a hand, gently pushing the hair back from his forehead.
He's so beautiful.
A wave of strange feelings washed over me, quieting the electric need I had felt moments before. He looked so young and innocent when he's sleeping, completely unguarded. I guess I'll have to find another time to get that kiss. There was no rushing this. We had the next few days to figure things out. I'm exactly where I need to be: next to him.
I carefully climbed onto the bed, moving gently as I pulled him against my side without waking him. I settled my arm around his chest, burying my face in the curve of his neck, exactly the way I needed to sleep.
The immediate relief that flooded my system confirmed the truth: the need to kiss him was strong, but the necessity to just hold him was even stronger.