Her chest is heaving, her body trembling with frustration, and when she finally looks up, her eyes meeting mine, they’re full of tears and self-hatred.
“This is why I don’t trust people,” she explains. “They’re all out to get something.”
Her first tear falls, and I tug her into my body and wrap her in my arms.
“You weren’t to know,” I say softly. “You never did anything wrong.”
Her tears soak my chest as she fights to catch her breath.
“B-but h-how did h-he know?” she stutters through her sobs. “I n-never t-told him about y-you.”
“I don’t know, baby.”
“He…he genuinely seemed like a hockey fan.”
“Maybe he is. Maybe this whole thing might not have been malicious.”
She nods, dragging in a ragged breath.
“This is going to blow over, Freya. Everything will be okay.”
“So you don’t think I’m a money-grabbing, fame-hungry whore?”
I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t contain my laughter. It’s such an un-Freya-like thing to say.
Releasing her, I take her face in my hands and duck down so I can stare straight into her eyes.
“No,” I state firmly. “There isn’t a single part of me that thinks that about you. No one who truly knows you would ever think that. If our friends see this, they’ll know instantly it’s bullshit. Anyone who matters will cast it all aside without asecond thought. All this does to those who know is make Rowan Conaway look like the pathetic jerk he really is.”
“Most won’t see that,” she says quietly.
“Fuck most people, Freya. Who gives a shit about them?”
More tears spill and run over my fingers as I hold her cheeks.
“No one.” Her voice is so soft, I wouldn’t hear the words if I weren’t so close.
“Exactly. The only thing I care about in this whole thing is the incredible woman standing before me. The talented, kind, caring, thoughtful, sexy, funny, overthinking, blurts-out-whatever-she’s-thinking woman in my hands right now that owns every inch of me.”
Her breath catches at my confession, and she blinks back more tears.
“Freya,” I breathe, leaning forward to rest my forehead against hers. “I think…” I start, my heart racing so hard I feel a little lightheaded. “I think I’m falling for you, too.”
Her skin pulls beneath mine, and when I move back a little, I find a deep frown marring her pretty face.
“Cole, I?—”
I press two fingers against her lips.
“Freya, I do not care about anything that is happening outside this apartment, nor will I ever. What I care about is right here.” I drop my hand to her chest, feeling the solid beat of her heart, just like she did to me not so long ago. “You blew in here like a whirlwind, and you turned my world on its head.”
Her lips part like she’s about to argue or, more likely, apologize.
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ve brought warmth and laughter to my previously sad and cold life. This place was my sanctuary where I could hide from the world, but you’ve turned it into a home. You’ve forced me to take a step back and really look at the way I was living, the way I waskeeping everyone at arm’s length, the way my past was still affecting my future.
“I can’t say things will change fast; I might always be somewhat of a lone ranger. But I want more, Freya. I want to be surrounded by those I love, and those I think might just care about me too.” A proud smile appears on her lips. “I want to have a family. My friends, you, your parents—if they’ll have me.” A laugh bursts out of her at that. “But mostly, I just want you.”
“Cole,” she breathes, her voice cracked with emotion.
