Deep End

by Ali Hazelwood

And that was before I knew that you’re kinky as shit.”

Did I tell him where I was heading? Doesn’t matter.

“The second thing is that I’ve read your list. And there is not a single thing you want that I don’t want more.”

“Well, I’m sure you already know how good he is at denying himself. The more he wants something, the less he’ll let himself have it.”

know, baby.”

“I love giving that to you, and I’m going to for as long as you’ll let me.”

I eat two-thirds, then hand him the rest. He scans my face, measuring, curious, and then accepts it and finishes in a single bite.

“Oh, sweetheart.” My belly swoops at the endearment.

“It’ll be okay, baby.

Because in my hands there’s a tie-dye shammy.

I’m drying off with my tie-dye shammy, so similar to the one I lost two years ago—the one I barely recall mentioning to Lukas. He remembered, though.

Two minutes later, my email pings with a message. Someone gifted me a yearly premium subscription to Duolingo. Lukas must not know my middle name, because he went with Scarlett Troll Vandermeer.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”