I zipped the bag back like I hadn’t just mentally roasted every damn item in it. Then I took a seat on the bed, stealing another glance at Chesteria, like I wasn’t up doing petty inventory on her plus-one.
Good girl. But yo’ taste in nigga’s these days? Questionable as hell, baby.
My hand moved without thinking. Slowly and softly, I brushed a curl away from her face as if I had the right to do so. To me, it felt like a natural gesture because deep down, I never stopped feeling like she was mine.
“You so fuckin’ beautiful,” I whispered.
Chesteria’s breathing stayed steady.
I stared at her a little longer, taking in the way her skin glowed even in the dim light, swallowing the ache that rose in my throat.
“I know our daughter would've looked just like you… probably a lil’ prettier since she had my DNA too,” I said, trying to keep my tone light, but the joke cracked mid-sentence, hanging awkwardly in the air. “She would’ve had my complexion, my eyes… probably my nose and forehead too. That would’ve left her with your smile and that lil’ attitude you swear ain’t loud but be yelling without a sound.”
I paused.
“I think about her every day… every damn day. And every time I do, I think about how I wasn’t there the way I should’ve been,how I let you carry that pain alone, and how you were hurting and still trying to be strong… and I wasn’t fuckin’ there.”
A quiet curse slipped out, laced with a violent regret.
“I’m so fuckin’ sorry, Chess. I can’t change what happened. I can’t bring her back or erase the pain I left you to carry, but I swear to God, if I could go back and redo that day... that whole year, I would. I’d show up right this time, no hesitation.”
My hand hovered above her cheek, not touching… just close enough to feel her warmth.
“You didn’t deserve that pain. You didn’t deserve to cry alone. You didn’t deserve my absence.”
Seconds later, her eyes fluttered open.
Shit.Did she hear that?
Chesteria’s expression shifted from sleepy confusion to alertness.
She blinked like she couldn’t believe I was real.
She always did wake up like a dream… and I was tired of living that nightmare without her.
Chesteria tugged the covers up and sat upright, acting brand new despite the history we shared beneath those sheets. I use to whisper to her nipples as I traced the shape of them with my tongue. I even remembered the exact shade of them—deep mocha… just a hint darker than the rest of her skin.
“Bryce, w-what are you doing in here? Is everything okay?" Her voice brought me back, shaking off the haze of nostalgia.
I smirked faintly. “Depends. Is spending another day here with me consideredokay?”
Chesteria twisted her face up in confusion, then turned her head toward the window.
Her jaw dropped in disappointment. “Noooo! It’s snowing! Really?!”
“Good thing you’re already inside.”I shrugged.
“Yeah, but I planned on leaving today,” she revealed, catching me off guard.
“You did?”
“Yes,”she sighed, arms folding over her chest. “After the whole bear situation, I was over this damn trip and Adrian’s ass, too. And having to be around him all day? Double yeah. I was gonna leave after breakfast. I can’t believe this is happening! The forecast said it wasn’t supposed to snow until Monday!” she whined like the weather betrayed her personally.
“Well, you know the weather here is unpredictable… just like people.”
She nodded slowly. “You got that right! Ugh! That damn Klarissa!”
I raised a brow. “What she do?”
