Her eyes narrow and search mine. They don’t soften or look happy; she looks at me with an unreadable expression that both unnerves and flusters me.
“You’ve developed Stockholm syndrome. I’m sorry,” she says seriously, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Jos—”
“No, you’re not saying what I think you’re saying.” She shakes her head in disbelief.
“I am. I like you, Josie, and I really want to stop pretending like I don’t.”
She pulls away and paces, bringing her hands behind her head. Is she…freaking out? Fuck, what did I do?
“Josie, stop. Look at me.” I grab her by the shoulders, steadying her gaze with mine. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m severely and mentally fucked up. You don’t need that. I’m giving you an out now. Run, seriously, while you can because I am not someone you should like.”
I wrap my arms around her shoulders, holding her firmly against me. If only she saw how dark it can get in my head, she’d be the one running.
“My heart begs for you.”
“Maybe it’s heartburn?” she mumbles into my shoulder.
I smile. “It’s not. I promise. Lately and for a while my heart and mind have been in a complicated relationship. They can’t agree so things don’t make sense or align, but you have somehow made them work together.”
Her breath catches and body goes taut, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Josie.” I hook my finger under her chin, making her look up at me. God, she’s so beautiful. I swallow hard, knowing I’m about to ask something that might ruin our relationship. That’s if my confession didn’t already. “Do you like me?”
I hold my breath and feel my heart plummet because she doesn’t answer and looks away.
Oh.
Oh.
“That’s okay. I didn’t expect you to feel the same way. I just thought you should know.” A rock roots deep in my throat, making it hard to get any other words.
“No, uh,” she mumbles and looks up at me. “I,” she sighs and her lips twitch into a small, awkward smile. “I do like you.”
The rock instantly disappears. “You’re not messing with me, are you?”
“No, I’m serious. I’m sorry it took me a second to admit that. It’s just that I…I don’t know.” She shrugs. “This freaks me out a little. I’ve been thinking a lot about my feelings and you recently. I want you. I like you.”
“But?” I know there’s one. I can feel the discomfort radiating off her body.
“If I tell you something, you won’t laugh at me, will you?” Josie tears her gaze away from mine and pulls away from my hold. She twirls her ring around her finger and puffs out a quivering breath.
“No, I promise I won’t.” I give her space, tucking my hands in my pockets to stop from reaching out to her.
She closes her eyes before lowering her head. “I don’t want to lose you as a friend. I don’t know if I want to take a chance on my feelings, knowing there’s a possibility of losing you if things don’t work out.”
I know it took her a lot to gather those words and say them out loud. I’m so proud of her.
Screw the space, I take her into my arms. “That’s not going to happen. We’ll take things slow, we don’t have to label this, share beds, or change anything. We’ll take it day by day.”
She wraps tentative arms around me. “Okay but…sharing beds wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”
I draw back, looking down at her. “I want that as long as you want it.”
“I do,” she abashedly admits.
