She’s trying to backpedal. Hell no, now that I know staying is an option for her, I’m not letting her leave.
I walk us back to my couch and pull her down beside me. “I have clothes you can sleep in and a new toothbrush.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“I keep extras in case my mom or sister sleeps over,” I say, and it’s not a lie. I’ve never had a woman sleep here before.
“That’s nice. Do they visit much?”
I hit the play button on the remote to resume her show. “Nah, my mom visits when she can.” I haven’t told her much about Pacey. I’m ashamed of how I acted last time I talked to her, and how bad I’ve let things get between us.
“What about your sister? Are you guys close?”
I swallow the needles pricking my throat. “Not really. We were when we were younger, but we grew apart.”
Olivia yawns, so I click the TV off and take her to my room. I hand her a T-shirt and a pair of sweats from my dresser. She follows me to the bathroom, where I grab a toothbrush from under the sink, then close the door behind me to let her do her thing.
I strip out of my jeans and step into a pair of sweatpants, opting to leave my shirt on. Normally, I’d sleep in my boxer briefs, but that’s probably not the best idea for our first night together.
I sit on the bed and plug my phone into the charger, ignoring several messages from the band group chat. I’ve seen those assholes every day for weeks and I’ll see them tomorrow. It can wait.
The bathroom door opens, and my breath catches in my throat when Olivia steps out in only my T-shirt. Her long legs on display, covered in tall white socks.
I cough. “Christ.”
“I sleep hot,” she says apologetically.
I scrub my hand over my face and nod. Fuck, this is going to be a long night. I’m still worked up from kissing her. When she told me about her three-month rule, I knew it would be hard to keep my hands off her. I also knew she’d be worththe wait.
It takes all my restraint to pull away when we’re in the middle of a hot as shit make-out session. Especially when it feels like she’s taunting me—sticking her chest out, practically panting with need, and gripping my neck so hard I have little indents from her nails.
As badly as I want to, I need her to make the move. I want her to break free from whatever is keeping her inside her head, making her think she can’t take exactly what she wants—or hell, even ask for what she wants. I already told her I’d give her anything. I can push her to the edge, but she has to make the leap.
She climbs under my blanket, and I go to the bathroom to brush my teeth before I slide next to her, tucking her under my arm.
“Oh!” she exclaims. “I forgot to tell you I started the blanket. Remember the one I showed you with all the designs?”
“The granny square?”
She peers up at me with wide eyes.
“Isn’t that what it’s called?” Did I get it wrong? I did some research on crocheting after I left her apartment when she’d shown me all that stuff on her phone.
“Yes. How’d you know that?”
I shrug and rub my nose along her hair, breathing in her sweet scent.
Grabbing her phone from the end table, she opens the camera roll, scrolling until she finds what she’s searching for. “It’s a little choppy right now. It might not turn out exactly like the other one but?—”
I shake my head, cutting her off. “Don’t do that to yourself. Who cares if it doesn’t turn out like the other one? This will be better. It’ll be yours.”
She stares at me, unsure, like no one ever compliments her.
I zoom in to get a better look at all the details and colors. AsI do, the phone vibrates in my hand. The screen fills with a photo of the blond, polo wearing douche named Chad. The same one from Instagram.
She doesn’t realize it because of the way I’m holding the phone. My blood pressure spikes instantly, and I clench my teeth. I hold the screen in front of her face. “Chadiscalling you.” I manage to speak as calmly as I can, even though I feel anything but.
Olivia sits up, her eyes bulging. She grabs the phone, hits ignore, and places it back on the table. Her face red.
