Chapter 17

Wilder

Never once in my life have I painted a room. Now I'm wearing cheap clothes we found at a second-hand shop, rolling out grey paint on Daria's wall while music comes out through an old stereo we found.

"Okay, so you paint the top half of the wall, and I focus on everything close to the floor because I'm shorter than you."

I flash her a grin. "Shortie."

Daria reaches out her arm, streaking a grey line on my arm, causing me to snort-laugh.

"Oh, you've done it now!" I assault her, squeezing her to my body with both my arms while she laughs in panic. I'm stronger than her, effortlessly holding her while using the roller to paint her front grey. I lean my chin against the top of her head, relishing the scent of her shampoo as I torture her. "Ah, you will look so pretty with some more paint!"

Daria howls at me, laughing so much that she is vibrating and flailing like a fish out of water. My heart swells inside my chest. Seeing her cheek