.vii.
She traces the patterns on his skin, knows all the lines that make him shudder when she finds them with her fingers. She lingers too long at one – the black rose, the tribute to his most guarded secret.
They have never talked about it, about his mom.
She thinks about her own mom. Her fickle, but lovable mom.
Is she repeating her mom's mistakes? Will she end up hurting Paul like her mom hurt Charlie?
"Hey," he says, his voice thick, and she's out of her head. "Where you at?" He kisses her softly and she shakes her head, reassuring him.
"I'm right here."