Fault Line (Coastal University #2)

by Ki Stephens

Block me out | Gracie Abrams

Lavender Haze| Taylor Swift

Exhale | Sabrina Carpenter

this is me trying| Taylor Swift

Fault Line | Gracie Abrams

Rose Colored Lenses | Miley Cyrus

Till Forever Falls Apart | Ashe, FINNEAS

He takes a solid step forward, the rough pad of his thumb swiping across my cheekbone. He

I lean against the doorframe, perched up against it with one raised arm.

At her request, there’s an uncomfortable pinching sensation in my chest. For some reason, I’m rattled by the thought of her hooking up with one of my teammates. It’s not because I want her for myself—to date her or anything like that—but it’s just the principle of the matter. Kaia Karras is mine to fuck with. “Hell no,” I finally manage to spit out.

“Sweet dreams.”

shake it off.

ts

“If you’re struggling, I wanna be the guy you call for help. The one who can make you forget about everything else and just . . . be in the moment.” There’s a long, stilted silence, the air between us heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, she speaks again, her tone teasing. “So, what you’re saying is that you want to be my last resort?” A smirk tilts my lips. “As long as I’m your something.”

you also brought me an orchid?”

“If it wasn’t obvious by now—I kinda give a shit about you, Karras.” I tense up in his arms. “Ah, I see.” “And I think you give a shit about me, too.” “Yeah,” I quietly, hesitantly agree. “Yeah, maybe I do.”

I want to wake up with her in the mornings and not have to worry about whether or not I crossed a line. I want to take care of her when she’s sick and not have to practically force her into letting me. I want to fight with her and not have to fear that she’ll never speak to me again. I want security. Trust. To be the one person she comes to when she’s in need.

I wake up in the middle of the night in Kaia’s bed, stretching my limbs out, the warmth of her sheets tangled around my body. Her head’s nestled against my chest, and the sweet, steady rhythm of her breathing lulls me back into a peaceful state.

I press a soft kiss to her temple and whisper, “Sleep well, pretty girl. I’ll still be here in the morning.”

i need someone who would do this to me

“Fuck, Kaia,” I rasp, unable to keep my emotions in check. “You’ve been treating this relationship like we’re living on a fault line, ready to destruct at a moment’s notice. It doesn’t make me feel very good, especially when I’ve done nothing but try and stick beside you. So if you’re looking for an out from me, I’m not gonna give you one.”

baby,