Novel's POV

I couldn’t sleep because my mind kept wandering back to what happened at the lake. I could still feel his lips on me; his touch still lingered on my body, and my body needed more. But first, I needed to go down those stairs to the dining room. I didn’t think I could do it. How would I face him?

“Hmmm.” I took a deep breath, as to whether I anticipated going down or not.

“Hi,” I practiced. Or maybe I should just lie and say I had caught a fever? But I immediately remembered that look in his eyes when we were in the hospital.

“Hey.” Then...