“I know.”
He smirks. “Don’t tell me you’re nervous to ask her out.”
I push him off. “It’s not that.” It’s exactly that.
When I look back at Marie and Rose, they have stopped crying—thankfully. They seem to be engrossed in a deep conversation. I notice Rose letting Marie touch the side of her head and then point to her cheek. I know exactly what’s the topic of their conversation is and it pisses me off because I’m once again reminded of the person who caused the damage.
I’m burning with the desire to search him at this hour and hit him, when Rose turns her head and looks at me. Trust, affection and care shine in those gorgeous brown eyes that I’ve become obsessed with in the last few months. They are not just eyesanymore. They have the capability to make me feel weak in my knees, fall down and worship the ground she walks on.
She looks away from me and sends a smile to Sebastian.
A scowl grows on my mouth, hating the fact that she didn’t send her smilemy way.
Fortunately she notices for Sebastian’s sake—I was thinking about shoving him—and sends me a weak smile. It’s nothing like her usual sweet smiles that make my heart pound, but it’s a smile nonetheless. It’s enough that she’s managed to muster up one despite everything that has happened to her.
Marie says something to her. A few minutes, after a hug, they start crying again and Sebastian and I make our way to them.
I pull Hope against me as she shares about her parents and her childhood. She then talks about her dad’s return and how he started hurting her. Listening to it doubles my anger, but the only thing that keeps me calm is her. I keep her tucked in my arms and take in every detail that she tells all of us.
Marie starts crying again and Sebastian hugs her and whispers words to her.
“You didn’t tell me those details,” I grumble into Rose’s hair. “I had no fucking idea it was this bad.”
“I’m sorry?—”
“You don’t need to apologize. I don’t blame you.”
Since her back is to me, I can’t see her face and read her thoughts.
Rose surprises me when she grabs my wrist—the one with her bracelet on—and places it in her lap. She rarely initiates physical touch with me, so it renders me surprised when she does it. I lose my ability to speak.
“There were times—many times—when I wanted to tell you everything. I would gather the courage but then the thought that you’d judge me or stop talking to me would just shatter thatcourage and I’d keep it all inside. You and your friends are the good parts of my life and I didn’t want to lose you guys.”
I hug her tighter. “You’ll never lose us. No matter what happens you’ll always have us. Drill that into your head.”
I don’t see her smile but I know there is one curving on her lips. “Okay.”
“Good,” I murmur, nuzzling my face in the crook of her neck. Her lavender scent enters my system and I can’t help but lose my mind over it. That flowery scent is fucking addictive and I love getting high on it.
A shiver runs through her and her breathing becomes rapid. I slant my head and look at her. Her eyes look back at me, and she looks so innocent and pure, making me want to do dirty things to her.
But I won’t because I want her to lead me. After everything that has happened, I know it can be hard for her to indulge into physical touch.
Of course, I want to do things with her. Things that are wicked and she’s read about in her romance novels, but I’d rather wait for her.
“Heath,” she breathes.
“Yeah,” I reply.
I wait for her but she doesn’t continue—she doesn’t need to. Her pupils dilate and her cheeks turn red and it’s clear that she’s getting attracted to me.
Before I can tease her or steal a kiss, the shrill sound of the bell disrupts the moment.
Rose pulls away from me and clears her throat. “It’s lunch break. We should go down.”
Marie speaks with a grimace. “People are talking so if you want to avoid them we can eat somewhere out.”
Rose stiffens and she resembles a statue. I just know her overthinking mind has started working.
