This Beautiful Chaos, Chapter 2

Your New Religion

I managed to unclench my fingers from his belt buckle, heat rising to my cheeks. Before I could stammer out some kind of apology, he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make it feel like we were the only two people in the room.

“Damn,” he said, his gaze sweeping over me. “If I knew angels walked among us, I’d have gone to church a hell of a lot more.”

I should’ve rolled my eyes. Should’ve called him out for the obvious line. Instead, my mouth ran ahead of my brain.

“Oh, sweetie,” I drawled, the words slipping out like honey. “I’m no angel. I got kicked out for mischief. But if you’re into demons, welcome to your new religion.”

For half a second, he just stared, his smirk melting into a full-blown grin that showed off those stupidly perfect teeth. Then. We both cracked. Laughter bubbling out of us like we’d both just stumbled into the world’s most ridiculous joke.

“Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands like I’d bested him in some invisible duel. “I like you already, belt-buckle bandit.”

“And you are?” I shot back, trying to hold onto some shred of composure even as my heart thudded in my chest.

“Evan,” he said, sticking out his hand like we were at a formal business meeting instead of flirting in a dingy venue. “And you?”

“Megan.” I took his hand, his grip warm and steady. “But you can call me ‘Your New Religion.’”

That made him laugh again, and I realized I might actually be in trouble.

Because if a smile could knock the wind out of me, his laugh just about ruined me.