NovelEnglishbefore dropping onto my chest, heaving
"I love you. | love you, Jessica." Luke breathed.
"| love you too."
LAURA & JOSH
LAURA & JOSH
LAURA
The gallery had shifted into full-party mode around me. What had started as
quiet conversations and polite laughter had turned into dancing, music blasting, and way too many people
getting drunk. Gorgeous French women and men were everywhere, dancing close, laughing louder, stumbling a
little as they clinked their champagne glasses. I'd bar But | knew Jess and Luke probably needed more time, so |
stayed, hanging near the edges of the crowd, feeling awkward and totally out of my element.
That's when a French guy with dark eyes and a tic scarf over one shoulder slid up next to me, flashing a
grin he clearly thought was charming. "Mademoiselle, you're like a dream," he said, his French accent thick as he
leaned in closer.
"Uh, thanks," | said, inching back a step. But he didn't take the hint. Instead, he wrapped an arm around my
waist, pullingin as he leaned down, his mouth aiming for a kiss.
| dodged to the side...
in time, and he nearly stumbled into the wall, barely catching himself. He turned back, givinga dopey,
unfazed. smile like he thought it was cute. | rolled my eyes, muttering a quick "Sorry" as | turned to make my
escape. And then-bam-I ran right into something solid.
Big hands caughtby the arms, steadyingbefore | could trip back. My eyes locked on the chest in front of
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtme, my heart skipping. | didn't need to look up to know who it was. The scent, the size, those familiar LAURA &
JOSH
hands that seemed to burn where they touched me. There was no mistaking him.
Josh.
He was actually here...
Why was he here?
"What the hell are you doing here?" | blurted, still staring at his chest, my pulse racing. | didn't trust myself to
look up at his face just yet. | didn't want to see whatever look he had forright now.
"I cwith Luke." His deep voice vibrated through me, sending chills. up and down my spine.
"Luke is a big boy, Josh. He could've con his own," | said bitterly. | didn't need this. It tooklong enough
to shake Josh from my life-
he haunted everything. My dreams, my daily thoughts... he even ruined relationships that could have worked if
I'd just moved on from this idiot.
"He asked..." Josh said, reaching to grab my arm, his grip just firm enough to turnback toward him. This
time, his thumb tilted my chin up gently until my eyes met his.
| stopped breathing for a second because his eyes always got me. Jess had the seyes-but on him, they were
deceiving.
They made him look innocent like he couldn't hurt a fly. Well, guess what -he'd hurtwith those baby blues.
"Josh. I'm happy you cwith Luke and that he finally pulled his head out of his ass. They deserve their happy
ending, but this isn't ours." | gritted the words out, and Josh's jaw tightened.
"| just wanted to say I'm sorry..." he mumbled, and something inside me
LAURA & JOSHI
snapped.
"Sorry!? | don't need an apology! | don't care if you're sorry! Go apologize to sother girl you ruined. This girl-
doesn't need it.
| turned on my heel and stormed out of the gallery, the city lights sharp and almost blinding as | stepped onto
the street. I'd had enough for one night. Enough of Josh, his stupid apologies, the way he could look atand
just wreckall over again.
| didn't notice he was following me
until | was halfway down the block. |
stopped the sound of his footsteps
unmistakable behing 03, aGddrhed,
throwirtin the harshest look |
could muster. "Just leavethe hell
alone, Josh!" | shouted, barely able to
keep the tremor ou The last thing |
wanted was him seeinglike
this-still affected, still torn up over
him. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
But he didn't listen. He
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
closed the gap in three long strides,
and before | could take another step
back, he grabbed gently bot firmly
ete ral toward the
recessed entrance of an office
building. My back hit the cool glass
door, the city noise muffled as we
slipped off the sidewalk, The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
My pulse pounded as | looked up, his
face inches from mine, the
streetlights EEC RE IaenE RE
eggs expression.
ithout a second thought, | lifted my
hand to slap him, but he caught my
wrist mid-air, his grip gentle but
unbreakable. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
His eyes flicked from my eyes to my mouth, lingering there. And before | could catch my breath, he lifted my arm
over my head, pinning it against the wall as he leaned in.
His lips brushed against mine, a whisper of a kiss that sent a shockwave through my body. For a heartbeat, | let
myself melt into it, let myself feel
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