Chapter Text
Katniss Everdeen sat in the art history auditorium on the Yale University campus and half listened to what her professor was saying.
“The Modigliani paper is incredibly important to your final grade, and I want to ensure there are no questions before we adjourn for the day. Does anyone have anything they’d like me to address regarding the assignment? Miss Everdeen, you look confused. Do you have a question?”
She had stared at the very round, very firm ass of her professor while he wrote on the white board for what must have been ten straight minutes before she realized he had turned around to face the class and was speaking to her.
“Miss Everdeen, are you still with us? I just asked if anyone had any questions regarding the Modigliani assignment and you looked like you had something you wanted to say,” her professor said, as he avoided eye contact with her, like always. He was perpetually shy around her, and never quite looked at her face, darting his eyes away if she glanced at him, which she did, often.
Just that you’ve got the roundest ass I’ve ever seen, and I’d love to try to bounce a quarter off it sometime.
“Uh no, Professor Mellark, sir. I’m sorry. I was deep in thought over the assignment, that’s all.”
“Excellent, I encourage all of you to be like Miss Everdeen and think hard about this assignment, as your work is due in my email inbox tomorrow night by midnight. This paper is 50% of your grade, so it’s critical that you all submit your assignments on time. I will be checking email time stamps, people, so don’t be late.”
The class made a collective affirmative noise and started packing their bags to head out of the classroom. Katniss jumped out of her seat quickly, needing to make it to her job at the Target near campus in thirty minutes. As she high tailed it to her car, Katniss couldn’t stop thinking about Professor Mellark. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen, and she was absolutely mesmerized by everything about him. None of her other professors at Yale looked anything like the muscular, blonde haired, blue eyed god with glasses who taught her art history class, and it was hard to pay attention when she was in his presence. She often found herself distracted as hell during his lectures, thinking about all the dirty things she wanted him to do to her, if only he wasn’t her professor. Too bad he obviously wanted nothing to do with her, judging by how hard he worked to avoid her gaze.
It’s like he can smell how desperate I am for him and is doing everything he can to dodge me.
At 26, Katniss was the oldest student in her young professor’s class at Yale. She had been lucky to get into Yale undergrad at all considering her age but had been admitted to the exclusive university based on research she had done that landed her a full academic scholarship.
Katniss was majoring in Environmental Studies and was just six short weeks away from graduation. She already had a job lined up working for her advisor, Dr. Beetee Latier, in the experimental research laboratory at the university, and she couldn’t wait to start her career in January. Graduating from the ivy league institution in three and a half years had been difficult, especially since Katniss worked part time, but she had been determined to graduate as soon as possible in order to start earning a salary that would help her pay for her sister’s medical school. Prim had been the whole reason Katniss applied to Yale in the first place, wanting to be near her sister and attend the same school. They were all each other had, after their parents had passed away five years ago in a car accident, and Katniss’s number one priority was being there for Prim. Her sister was her best friend, and she would do anything it took to ensure Prim’s career as a doctor got started on the right foot.
Katniss thought about the paper she had due the next day and began to stress over how to get her final edits finished on time. The paper was complete but needed major tweaking, and she had to work that evening from 2pm-9pm, and had classes the majority of the following day. She would need to pull an all-nighter to finalize her assignment by the deadline. Her paper had to be perfect. Katniss was only taking art history as an elective, and would be damned if she would let a piddly little art class be the reason her pristine 4.0 GPA was ruined before graduation. She had every intention of graduating with high honors.
Katniss made it to the Target, grabbed her duffle bag, and headed into the ladies’ room to change into her red polo and khakis. She clocked in and then walked to the electronics section to get to work. All she had to do was get through this shift, and then she could head home to fully dedicate herself to her paper. She wanted to blow Professor Mellark’s socks off with the quality of her work, to ensure he gave her an A.
Summa Cum Laude, here I come! I won’t let anything get in my way.
__
Seven and a half hours later, an exhausted Katniss collapsed onto her living room couch. Her sister had heard her arrive home and poked her head out of the kitchen to greet her.
“Hey sis, long day?”
“Sure was. Three straight hours of classes followed by a crummy seven-hour shift at work. I’m beat, and I still have to finish editing my final paper for art history. It’s worth half my grade, so it’s got to be perfect.”
“Art history, that’s the class with the hottie professor, right?”
“Yep, that’s the one. It’s hard to pay attention in that class, Prim. He’s just so damn gorgeous that I can’t stop staring! I’m sure he’s noticed by now how much I ogle him. It’s a good thing my final grade is based on writing research papers, because I would be screwed if there were exams based on the material he covers in class.”
“Too busy thinking about that ass to focus on the subject matter?”
“Exactly! I swear he could be a model, Prim. It’s criminal that someone can look like that and yet still be so damn smart at the same time. He’s seriously the perfect man! He wears these glasses that make him look so sexy and distinguished, and he’s always in a three-piece suit. He’s got this gorgeous, ashy blonde tousled hair, and his eyes are cornflower blue. He’s like a walking Armani ad!”
“I’m sure Yale gets hella tuition money just from all the thirsty hoes who want to take his class.”
“Well, they really fucked up when they gave me that scholarship, then, because they’re not getting a dime from me. I get to watch the floor show for free! Lucky me, huh?”
“Lucky you, indeed. Maybe I’ll add art history as an elective next semester. I wouldn’t mind some eye candy.”
“There’s usually a waitlist for Professor Mellark’s class.”
“Like I said, Katniss, the hoes at Yale be thirsty as fuck!”
__
Three hours later, Katniss’ head was lolling to the side as she fought sleep while she finished the edits for her Modigliani paper. She was happy with how it turned out, but decided it would be better to give it a final once over the next day once she was rested. Her first class of the day wasn’t until 10am on Fridays, giving her the chance to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Katniss saved the document to her laptop, closed her computer, and climbed into bed. She immediately fell into a deep sleep, dreaming about blue eyes, blonde curls, and toned asses.
__
The next morning, after her usual two cups of coffee, Katniss sat down at the kitchen table with her laptop to give her art history paper a final read through. She had just about an hour before she needed to leave for her first class of the day. She read through her assignment, made a few minor changes, and once she was happy with her work, finalized the formatting and saved the document for the last time.
Just as she was about to email it to Professor Mellark, however, Katniss’ phone rang. She saw that it was her ex-boyfriend from high school, Darius, and rolled her eyes. She ignored the call, drafted her email to Professor Mellark, and was about to attach the file when the phone rang again. She silenced the phone and proceeded with her task. The phone rang again, and an annoyed Katniss hit send on her email before answering the call.
“Darius? Hey, what’s up?”
“Hey, Kat! How are you?”
“I’m good, and you? Is there a reason you’re calling me relentlessly at 9am on a Friday?”
We’ve been broken up for eight years, dude, and we haven’t talked that whole time. What the heck do you want from me?
“Yeah, sorry for being so persistent, but I have something time-sensitive to ask you.”
“Okay?”
“I have a work function tonight, and my date cancelled on me just now. I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me?”
“Umm, thanks, but I have plans tonight.”
I don’t, actually, unless you count thirsting over Outlander’s Jamie Fraser and drinking a glass of merlot, but he doesn’t need to know that. Besides, what the heck brought this on after eight years?
“Okay, no worries, I understand. I just thought it might be nice to catch up after all this time. I heard you moved to New Haven with Prim and that you’re both at Yale?”
“Yes, we love it here! It’s not too far from home, only an hour, so we get to visit our cousins for holidays and family events. Life in New Haven is great!”
“Yeah, I bet! I’m really happy for you, Katniss! Well, anyway, I’m sorry for calling so early. I know it’s been forever, but I’ve been thinking about you lately after I ran into your Aunt Hazelle at the grocery store a few weeks ago, and hearing about how well you’re doing made me miss you. Let me know next time you’re back home. I would love to catch up sometime.”
“I will, Darius, thanks. Take care.”
They hung up the phone, and Katniss sat back and thought a bit about the call. She and Darius had been good friends in high school, and he had asked her out the beginning of their senior year. He had been her first everything, and she had cared for him deeply, but she had broken things off after graduation when he moved away to attend school in Massachusetts. Katniss hadn’t planned on attending college, wanting to work at a nearby research facility instead to start earning money, and hadn’t been interested in a long-distance relationship at the age of eighteen. Darius was a good guy, though, and he had made her happy once upon a time. They didn’t have the spark she always imagined she should have with someone she would be with long term, but he was a good, hardworking guy who cared about her, and she would be foolish to completely dismiss his interest in her. Katniss knew that Darius had recently moved back to the area, and she hadn’t been on a date in two years, so she was tempted by his offer to hang out. She had met too many jerks via the dating apps Prim had encouraged her to sign up for to want to stay in the dating game. Katniss was lonely, though, and ready to start something new. Maybe she would give Darius a call when she was home for Thanksgiving in two weeks and see if he wanted to meet up. It was time to give dating a chance again.
Katniss spent so long thinking about Darius and the call and the daunting prospect of getting back into dating, that she didn’t realize the time and had to rush to get ready for class. Flustered, she jumped up and hurriedly started gathering her phone and laptop off the table to begin her morning routine.
Just as she was getting ready to head to her room to get dressed for the day, though, Katniss heard the ping of an incoming email and saw that a message from Professor Mellark had come through. Her heart instantly sped up, as it always did when she saw his name in her inbox, and she eagerly opened the email.
She frowned, however, when she read what he had written to her. Katniss felt sick to her stomach as she read the message.
Katniss-
You have attachment issues. Please fix this.
Peeta J. Mellark, PhD
Assistant Professor, Art History
Yale Department of the History of Art
What the hell? What did he mean when he said she had attachment issues?
The realization of what he was saying struck Katniss suddenly, and she almost fell off her chair.
Oh no. I’m so screwed! He knows! He knows I want him! FUCK!
Professor Mellark must have noticed how much Katniss stared at him in class, and had clearly gotten so uncomfortable with her leering at him for the past two months that he had finally decided to say something about it. He obviously thought she was somehow emotionally attached to him, a man way out of her league and who she couldn’t be with because he was her teacher, and was calling her out on it. How would this affect her graduation in six weeks? Would he want her to drop his class? Would he issue her a failing grade? Would he report her to the Dean?
I feel like I’m going to throw up! This is my worst nightmare! The sad part is, he’s not wrong. I’m definitely attached to him. Unhealthily so. I’m obsessed with him! Fuck!
Katniss chided herself for her pathetic interest in someone she could never have and took a deep breath. She would need to figure out how to avoid Professor Mellark like the plague for the rest of the semester while somehow still passing his class. Screw getting an A, at this point she just had to hope he wouldn’t fail her so that she could graduate.
Katniss calmed herself down by doing the breathing exercises her sister had taught her months ago, and got dressed for the day. She wasn’t sure how she would be able to face Professor Mellark in class on Tuesday, and hoped that by sitting in the back of the room she could lay low for the rest of the semester. She hoped that the paper she had submitted had been good enough to solidify a passing grade, and that her graduation wouldn’t be impacted by her ridiculous behavior.
Get it together, Everdeen. You’ve worked way too hard to let a pathetic unrequited crush ruin things.
__
Four hours later, Katniss was finally done with classes for the day, and headed home for a much-needed bubble bath before her later tv date with Jamie Fraser. She decided to check her email to see if there was anything pressing, and saw another message from Professor Mellark. Katniss’ stomach dropped, and she braced herself for another email about her pitiful behavior towards him. What was the email about? Would he want to see her in his office to let her know that she could no longer be his student?
Katniss mentally prepared herself for the worst and then opened the email. What she saw surprised her almost as much as his first email had.
Katniss-
Sorry for the confusion, I meant the file attachment for your Modigliani paper. Please ensure you’ve attached the file to the email before re-sending, as it was missing from your initial message. Thank you.
Peeta J. Mellark, PhD
Assistant Professor, Art History
Yale Department of the History of Art
Wow, what an idiot she was! He had emailed to let her know that she had forgotten to attach the file for her paper, not to call her out for her interest in fucking him raw on his desk!
Katniss let out a breath and laughed loudly at herself. She replied to Professor Mellark’s email, thanking him for letting her know about the oversight, and attached not one, but two copies of her paper, just to be sure.
Crisis averted! He’s got no idea how badly I want to get on my knees for him. What a relief!
__
By 7pm, Katniss was on her second straight rewatch of the Outlander wedding night episode, and had enjoyed two delicious, full-bodied glasses of wine. She heard the front door to the apartment open, and saw her sister enter the living room. Katniss paused the episode right as Jamie had given Claire his mother’s Scotch pearl necklace and greeted Prim.
“Hey, how was your day?”
“Shitty. I am so sick of working retail! People are the worst! I’m in need of a good dicking and a glass of whiskey.”
“Prim! Oh my word, do you have to be so crass?”
“You’re one to talk, Miss I’m Horny for My Professor So I Lowkey Stare at His Ass All Day.”
Too soon, Prim. Way too fucking soon.
“Whatever, Prim. What are your plans for tonight?”
“I wasn’t joking about the dicking, or the whiskey. I’m going out on the prowl, and you’re coming with me.”
“Oh no, I’m not! I’m staying right here with Jamie.”
“You’re lame, you know that? How many times have you watched the wedding episode tonight?”
“None of your damn business!”
“Anyway, get your ass dressed, now. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Ugh, fine, fine.”
Katniss found it difficult to deny her sister anything. Prim was the light of her life, and she didn’t know how she would survive if she lost her, too. She knew she should be happy that her much prettier, much cooler, much more popular sister still wanted to spend her Friday nights with her.
Katniss got dressed and met Prim in the living room half an hour later.
“Well, do I pass muster?” she asked, as she twirled around in her skintight jeans and low-cut halter top. She was wearing heels that Prim had given her for Christmas, which her sister had dubbed her “fuck me” heels, and had tousled her hair and applied smoky eye makeup.
“You’re a total knockout, I promise. The men of Oceania won’t know what hit them!”
“Oceania? The night club?”
“Yup! I heard it’s where all the hotties hang out. I’ve never been, but I hear the men are prime.”
“Let’s go, then!”
__
As their Uber driver dropped them off at the front of the club, Katniss looked at the long line and told her sister, “Prim, I don’t think there’s any chance we’ll get in. There are way too many people waiting to be granted access!”
“Don’t worry, sis. I know the bouncer. He’s in one of my classes. Thresh is a great guy, and I texted him to let him know we would be here tonight. He said we could bypass the line and walk right to the front.”
“Isn’t that a douche bag move?”
“Yes, but who cares? Life is short, and we’re young and beautiful!”
If only I had my sister’s confidence. How much easier would life be if I did?
Katniss followed Prim to the front of the line and tried to ignore the glares everyone waiting patiently in line threw at them. Thresh gave Prim a huge smile and promptly let the sisters inside, wishing them a fun night.
“Told you!” Prim smirked.
“Yeah, yeah, it seems being young and beautiful has its perks.”
The sisters made their way inside the club and ordered drinks. They sat near the bar area, chatting away, and were each well on their way to a strong whiskey buzz when Katniss heard a deep familiar voice behind her.
“Fancy seeing you here, Miss Everdeen.”
Katniss turned and saw Professor Mellark behind her. He looked absolutely scrumptious in a light blue button-up shirt and dark wash jeans. He wasn’t wearing his usual glasses, and his hair was even more disheveled than usual, making him look roguish and carefree.
Fuck me! He looks good enough to eat!
“Ppppp-Professor Mellark, hiiiii,” Katniss stuttered.
“You can call me Peeta tonight, since we’re not in class.”
“Then I guess you should call me Katniss.”
“Well, Katniss, like I said earlier, it’s fancy seeing you here. How’s your night going so far?”
“It’s going really well! This is my sister, Prim. Prim, this is Peeta Mellark, my art history professor.”
Prim gave Katniss an appreciative look and shook Peeta’s hand. The three of them made polite small talk before Prim excused herself to use the ladies’ room.
Katniss looked at Peeta apprehensively, unsure of how long it was acceptable to talk to an off-limits professor she was obsessively crushing on.
He must have been able to sense that she was uncomfortable and broke the ice first.
“Listen, Katniss, I’m actually really glad we ran into each other tonight. I wanted to apologize for the email I sent earlier. I realize that the wording sounded odd, and I felt bad as soon as I realized what I sent. Thanks for re-sending the paper.”
“Oh, no worries! I’m just glad you noticed I had forgotten the attachment. I would hate to miss the deadline.”
“I would have given you a pass, since you had obviously completed the assignment on time. It was a simple mistake, don’t worry. I look forward to reading your work when I start grading this weekend. Everything you’ve submitted so far has been exemplary, and I have no doubt this paper will be the same.”
Katniss blushed and said, “Thank you, Professor.”
“It’s Peeta, remember? At least for tonight, anyway.”
“I feel bad that I’m monopolizing your time out. I’m sure your girlfriend is waiting for you.”
Peeta gave her an odd look.
Fuck, just when things were going well, you have to go and fish for information. Moron!
“I, uh, don’t have a girlfriend, actually. I’m here with my friend, Finnick Odair. He’s the owner of the club. He invited me out tonight to celebrate his engagement. He proposed to his longtime girlfriend last night, and she accepted, so they asked me to meet them for drinks. They’re just over there, but everyone else with us is coupled off, so I’m the odd man out. It was getting a bit weird being the only one not in a pair, and then I saw you and decided maybe I didn’t have to be lonely tonight.”
Oh, fuck. What does that mean? Why does my dirty mind automatically assume he means that in the biblical sense?
Peeta gave Katniss a panicked look and said, “Oh shit, that sounded bad! I’m so sorry, Katniss, I didn’t mean it in an inappropriate way, I promise! I just meant that I finally had someone to talk to, who I was interested in.”
Say what? He’s interested in me?
Peeta ran a hand through his hair awkwardly and said, “Dammit, why can’t I stop messing up around you today? I meant that I saw someone who would be fun to talk to, who wasn’t part of our group or otherwise attached. There, was that better?”
Katniss laughed and said, “I knew what you meant the whole time, don’t worry. I realize how ridiculous it would be for you to be interested in someone like me.”
Really, Everdeen? How much whiskey have you had? You sound like a sad, insecure loser.
Peeta looked at her in surprise and said, “Why would you say that, Katniss? Any man would be lucky to be with you!”
“Thanks, but I haven’t met any that are actually interested in me in a long time, so…”
Peeta shook his head and said, “Well, then, they’re crazy, because I think you’re great. Really, really great.”
He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Katniss felt a spark the instant his large, warm hand landed on her body, loving the way it felt to have him touch her. She shivered, and he quickly removed his hand.
“I shouldn’t have done that, Katniss, I’m sorry! I just can’t think straight around you sometimes. Especially when I’ve been drinking! I’d better go before I do something stupid that will get us both in trouble. It was good to talk to you. I’ll see you in class on Tuesday.”
And then he was gone. Katniss felt bereft at the loss of his presence, missing him the instant he walked away. She was buzzed, and part of her was worried she had dreamt up their entire exchange. It felt like he had been flirting with her, and she couldn’t quite believe it. Was she reading him wrong? She knew what it felt like to be desired, and the way he had looked at her and spoken to her felt distinctly like he wanted her. She had never noticed that type of behavior from him before in the classroom. He had a hard time meeting her eyes in class, she knew that, but she had always figured it was because he was semi-aware of the effect he had on her, and didn’t want to lead her on. Katniss was almost positive that he likely got hit on and propositioned by female students often, and probably knew how to spot the thirsty ones a mile away. She, however, was likely the thirstiest of them all, and he somehow didn’t seem to know it.
As Katniss continued to re-examine every word of her interaction with Peeta, Prim returned to her seat.
“Hey, I didn’t want to interrupt what looked like a very cozy conversation with Professor McHottie. I saw him touch you. I think he likes you, Katniss! He was looking at you like he wanted to eat you alive!”
“You think so?”
“Oh, I know so! He was eye fucking the hell out of you! Does he usually look at you like that during class?”
“No, no at all. He usually can’t make eye contact with me, and darts his eyes away if I accidentally catch him looking at me. He’s kind of skittish around me.”
“That means he’s definitely attracted to you but is conflicted because you’re his student. He’s been drinking tonight, and isn’t around other Yalies, so he likely felt more comfortable letting his guard down. Trust me, he wants you.”
“What do I do about it?”
“There’s nothing you really can do, not for another six weeks, anyway. You would get him in a ton of trouble if anything happened between the two of you before then. I would keep my head down and my nose in my books, and then try to find a way to reach out to him after graduation.”
“You think I should make a move once he’s no longer my professor?”
“Absolutely! Men like that are rare, and he’s super into you. Don’t let that interest go to waste. He’s likely marrying age, anyway. He’s probably looking to settle down soon. How old is he, do you know?”
“He’s 31.”
“How do you know that?”
“I might have done a little Google stalking.”
“Do you know where he lives, too?”
“Property records aren’t that hard to find, Prim.”
“You’re obsessed!”
“Maybe.”
Definitely.
“Luckily for you, I think the feeling might be mutual. Let’s go dance! I need to find me a man. Let ‘Operation Dicking Down’ commence!”
__
The next six weeks passed by in a blur. Between working, studying, and final exams, Katniss’ life was hectic and full. She went home for Thanksgiving but didn’t give Darius a call, not wanting to lead him on when he wasn’t the one she really wanted.
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Professor Mellark’s class went back to the way they had been before she had seen him at the club, and he went back to his typical shy behavior around her, as if they had never semi-flirted that night. Katniss was partially relieved, and partially disappointed that nothing else had happened between them. He had given her an A on her Modigliani paper and left her copious amounts of positive feedback on her work, but had been the consummate professional in every interaction between them since.
Finally, the day of graduation arrived, and Katniss was ready to move forward with her life. She had officially graduated from Yale Summa Cum Laude, and was ready to start her career working in the lab assisting Dr. Latier. She and Prim had plans to go out to eat with her Aunt Hazelle and cousins that night, and she was more than ready to celebrate.
Just as she had made it halfway to her car after the ceremony, though, Katniss heard a deep masculine voice addressing her.
“Katniss! Katniss, wait up!” the man said.
She turned and saw Professor Mellark rushing towards her, practically sprinting to keep up with her. Her heart started beating faster as she realized that this was it, this was her chance to talk to him and see if he wanted to hang out with her now that she wasn’t his student. Maybe he had the same idea, and wanted to ask her out? She gave him a huge smile and hoped for the best.
“Professor Mellark, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s fine, I just wanted to catch up with you before you headed out. I wanted to congratulate you on graduating with high honors, and tell you what a pleasure it was to have you in my class.”
Oh, is that it? That’s disappointing. Was that really worth sprinting across campus to talk to me?
“Oh, okay. Thank you. You were a great teacher. I appreciate how much time you always put into giving me feedback on my papers. I’d better get going, as my family is waiting for me. Take care, Professor,” she said, dejected, as she started to walk away.
A few seconds later, though, she felt a hand on her arm, causing her to stop walking and turn around.
“Katniss, wait! That’s not all I wanted to say. Give me another minute of your time, please!”
“Okay, what is it?”
“I also wanted to see if….maybe you would be interested in…keeping in touch with me?”
“Keeping in touch with you? What does that mean, exactly, Professor?”
“Call me Peeta, please. I’m not your teacher anymore, Katniss, so we can be more casual now. By ‘keep in touch’, I mean that I would really like to spend time with you, if that’s something you would be interested in.”
“Spend time with you, how?”
“You’re really making me work for it, huh? Alright then. I want to take you out sometime, on a date. If you would want that, I mean. You said there weren’t men interested in you, but you were wrong. I’m interested in you, very much so. I have been since the first day I saw you in my classroom, and it threw me off my game that entire first lecture. I’ve never felt the force of attraction for someone the way I felt about you when I saw you the first time. I wanted you instantly. Excessively. Almost obsessively. My intense need to be with you was a shock to my system, and I’ve been fighting to keep my emotions off my face all semester in your presence. I understand if you don’t want to go out with me, as I’m a bit older than you, as well as your former professor, but I would regret it immensely if I didn’t at least try. You’re beautiful, smart, and funny, and everything I’ve been looking for in a woman for years and never found. I would really love to get to know you better. What do you say, Katniss? Will you go out with me?”
Katniss’ answer to Peeta was a firm kiss on the mouth. He was surprised by her actions, judging by the fact that it took him several seconds to return her kiss, but soon wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back hungrily. Katniss was glad that they were near a secluded, wooded part of campus and couldn’t be seen by anyone, because the fire between them was intense, and she didn’t want anyone to witness their intimate moment. Kissing Peeta was the best experience of her life so far, and she never wanted it to end.
They kissed for what must have been ten minutes before they each pulled away from one another, gasping for air.
“Wow! That was some kiss!” Peeta said. “I take it your answer to my question is yes?”
“My answer is hell yes, Peeta!”
Peeta leaned in to kiss her again, smiling against her lips as he said, “Good, because you’re not the only one who has attachment issues.”