“Don’t.” She points to my outstretched hand with hooded eyes. “I can take care of myself.”
“Of course you can.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows pull together; both hands gripping the rail. “Because you driving all the way here means you trust me to take care of myself? I didn’t call you to come over here. I didn’t ask you to. I don’t need anyone, and I certainly don’t need a man to save me.”
“You don’t need saving, Wallflower. But you did call me.”
“I did.” She nods once.
We simply stare at one another. No words need to be said. I wish I could tell her everything. My feelings. All of it. But even if I wanted to right now, I can’t. All she needs right now is an aspirin and some sleep.
“I’m going inside,” she mumbles, turning to climb the five steps to her front door. She waves her hand behind her. “You can go home now.”
I follow closely, not listening to a word she says.
I hold the door open for her, and she allows me to. She moves past me and straight for the stairs, taking the first few steps safely, but once she hits the first landing, she isn’t as smooth. I catch her before she falls to the side, wrapping my arm around her waist. She’s warm against my side, and I breathe a tiny sigh of relief.
There’s the first hit, giving me the fix I desperately needed. She feels like heaven.
I hold her against me while helping her walk up the steps.
“So, why did you call me, Wallflower?” I clear my throat. “It’s been days.”
She smiles and looks up with those gorgeous, hooded, mossy eyes. “The place we went to had coconut cake on their dessert menu.”
I chuckle. “That’s what you wanted to tell me?”
She pauses and stares at her feet as she takes the last few steps. We stand in front of her door. “Made me think of you.”
“Did you order it?”
“No.” She frowns. “Maybe next time.” The corner of her mouth lifts as she looks up and smiles. Silver glittery eyeshadow is spread out across her lids, matching her dress. She’s a shimmering disco ball. She looks drastically different than she did on our first date days ago. I can tell Julianna had a hand in her outfit and makeup tonight.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you, Selene.” My confession spills out of me, and I have no regrets once it does.
Not even when her smile fades.
My heart pounds as she sticks her key into the knob.
Rejection knocks the air from my lungs. I try not to let the disappointment ebb its way back in the way it has the past few days. I’m tired of living in it.
Selene’s door squeals as it opens, and I stand in the open entryway, staring at her place. I’ve never been inside. It’s a small apartment, and I immediately take note of how every piece of furniture and decoration screams Selene. The muted beige and white fabrics, with subtle hints of sage green. But then I start to notice the large crack in the ceiling, the dripping kitchen faucet, and the worn-out carpet.
Selene steps inside, tosses her key into the bowl beside us, then stops once she’s on the other side. She spins to face me, swaying as if she’s standing on the deck of a rocking boat. Tipping her chin higher, her eyes rake over my face. She lingers on my mouth, then looks me straight in the eye.
“I have something else I want to tell you.” Her voice is barely a whisper.
She falls forward, landing weakly against me. Her eyes don’t stay open for long. She says she’s had six shots of tequila, but I’mwondering how much she’s really had. I have a feeling she’s going to pass out any second.
I grip onto the back of both of her arms as she presses her hands to my chest.
“You were right,” she whispers.
I could hold her like this forever.
“Right about what?” I swallow my nerves. I’m on fucking fire. I allow the feeling to burn me from the inside out. If this is what it feels like to completely surrender yourself to falling in love with someone, I’ll welcome this feeling for the rest of my life.
She smooths her palms slowly up along my neck. My breathing is quick and shallow. She’s never touched me like this. It’s impossible to not want to kiss her or allow my hands to roam, but I can’t. I won’t. I only want her when she’s fully conscious and sober.
