Flashback ( PDFDrive )

you want me to drop it and we’ll just sit here and stare at the stars?”
He glanced over his shoulder and pointed to the sky, which had faded
to a peaceful swirl of purple and blue, brushed with flecks of twinkling
glitter. “Anything’s fine, Sophie. Seriously.” He reached for her hand,
gently tangling her gloved fingers with his. “I told you my new goal is
to get you to trust me. And I mean it. I know this is hard for you. It’s
hard for me, too—but in a different way. I’m only worried you’re going
to laugh or—”
“I would never laugh,” Sophie interrupted. “I do like you, Fitz.
You . . . have no idea how much.”
His smile shone in the dim light.
“I might have some idea,” he said, reaching up to tuck a strand of
her hair behind her ear—and Sophie couldn’t help leaning into his
hand. “So why don’t you just tell me what’s really going on in here,” he
added, tapping her temple as he made the request.
Sophie swallowed, fighting to find her voice. The most she could
manage was a whisper. “I’m thinking . . . I want all of this to be real so
badly, but . . . I can’t really control that. Even if I register for the
match . . .”
Fitz nodded. “I figured that’s what you might be thinking.” His
fingers trailed gently across her cheek, triggering so many tingles she
almost missed it when he said, “You don’t have to worry about that,
Sophie. There’s no way we won’t be matched.”
It was really hard not to laugh. “How can you say that?”
“How can I not?”
“Oh please, let’s . . . let’s be realistic. You’re this . . . golden child
from this golden family, and I’m—”