Chapter 180

I stood on my toes and pressed my mouth to his. My lips touched the edge of his smile. ‘Happy New Year.’ We left Midtown Crossing half an hour later. Everything looked strange. The streets were the same, but wrong. My hands were numb from the cold. My ears were still buzzing. I couldn’t tell if it was the wind or my brain shorting out. By the time we got back, my legs were cramping so badly I had to lean on the counter to get my boots off. I nearly passed out in the shower. The water was too hot and I didn’t care. I crawled into bed, shut the light, and stared at the ceiling. I turned over once. Twice. Closed my eyes. Opened them again. My brain kept replaying Midtown—his face in the floodlights, the noise, the heat, the way my body slammed into his like I’d been waiting all year for it. I kicked off the blanket and rolled onto my stomach. A knock came from the door. Three short taps. ‘Can I come in?’ Ashton’s voice was quiet. I sat up. My hair stuck to the side of my cheek. ‘Yeah. Wha