Beth forced herself to meet his eyes.
She saw the moment he understood.
Hers was with him.
Was his with her?
Her gaze dropped to her lap. “I know it shouldn’t bother me, but not knowing bothers me. I…” she exhaled, shaking her head slightly. “I guess that’s part of why I get so weird. I don’t know that much about you, yet when it comes to that—and before it comes to that again—I think I need to.”
Bryce exhaled slowly, then reached forward. Not fast, not forceful—just enough for his fingers to brush against hers, his touch gentle.
Her voice was so soft. “Does that make sense?”
There was no teasing in his expression now, no amusement. Only understanding. Only love.
“Look at me, please.”
Beth did.
“I will tell you anything you want to know.”
Beth’s chest tightened at the certainty in his voice. She didn’t know what she had expected—but his response was exactly what she needed. She let out a breath, rolling her lips together.
“I don’t want to talk about it tonight.”
Bryce nodded once. “Okay.”
Beth shifted slightly, pulling the blanket from the side of the chair over her lap, feeling more settled than before.
“I have to work tomorrow,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
Bryce smiled faintly, tilting his head. “We both do.”
Beth tucked her hands beneath the blanket. “But… just knowing we can talk about it…” her voice trailed off for a second before she looked back at him. “That helps.”
Bryce’s eyes softened.
“Good,”
There was a moment of silence, comfortable silence, where neither of them moved to break it. Then Bryce pushed off thefloor and stood. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to the spot along her hairline. “Get some rest, Lizzy.”
Beth watched as he strode toward the door.
Before he got too far, her voice stopped him.
“Bryce.” Beth hesitated. “Thanks for… chasing me.”
A slow, knowing grin spread across his face.
“Always,” he said.
And then he was gone.
Beth exhaled, sinking a little deeper into the chair, fingers still curled loosely beneath the blanket, and fell asleep.
CHAPTER 25
Beth survived the first night in her new home.
