Ryann: Hey, sorry. Phone was on silent. I’m at work.
Thank the goddamn lord.
I booked it out of the place, locking up and jogging down the stairs. Iranthe six blocks to the café and sprinted inside. The damn bell chimed, and she looked at me over the counter, her eyes widening in surprise
“Jonah,” she said, her gaze sweeping across the café with a few students at a small table before landing on me again. “What are you—why are you out of breath? Did you win?”
I didn’t even think. I ran toward the counter to the moveable shelf that she lifted to get behind the register and went through it to reach her. She dropped the bag of coffee in her hands, the grounds spilling everywhere, but I didn’t give her the chance to pick it up. I closed the distance between us, needing her more than I knew how to express, and I gently cradled the back of her head before lowering my mouth to hers. She moved her arms around my waist, gripping me tight, and I felt like flying.
She tasted like coffee and chocolate, and when she relaxed against me, my heart almost burst with how right she felt. Her answering sigh calmed my nerves, and she nipped at my bottom lip as a sparkle entered her eyes.
“I’m sorry for not saying this sooner. I knew it but was trying to do the right thing, I think. I don’t even know.” I kissed her forehead and held her tight against me. “We won tonight, and I didn’t even care.”
“What?”
“You. I needed to find you, Ryann. I want to be with youallthe time. Like a real couple,” I said, almost panting as I rested my forehead against hers. “You make my life so much better. You’re my favorite human on the planet, and it’s crazy we thought we could end this. God, I was an ass yesterday.”
“I was too,” she said, reaching up and cupping my chin. Her eyes swirled with love and heat, and my heart fluttered in my chest. She was with me. She wanted me too.
I swallowed hard at the overwhelming emotion raging through my body. I kept everyone at a distance because it was safer, but this beautiful, goofy woman snuck in, and instead of being terrified, I loved it. “Ryann,” I said, but she put her finger against my lips.
“No, let me say this please. I panicked when Michael saw us together and accused me of doing exactly what I promised him I wouldn’t. I said things that weren’t true right when you needed me most. I’m sorry, Jonah.” She looked at the ground and took a deep breath before meeting my eyes. ”We are so much more than nothing, god. I keep replaying it in my head, all the ways it could’ve gone. I hope you forgive me.”
“Of course I do.” I covered her hands with mine, needing all the skin contact I could get. She was warm and sweet and home. “Iloveyou, Ry. I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner. The second I knew it, I should’ve told you.”
She blinked a few times and smiled ear to ear. “I love you too.”
“Your brother told me you loved me,” I said, moving my hand to her lower back and crushing her against my chest. “You weren’t at the game, and it freaked us both out. He said it was my fault, and I had no idea what he was talking about.”
“He what?”
“No, no.” I paused, not wanting her to think he did anything out of line. ”He told me I needed to get my shit in gear since his sister loved me. Neither one of us liked the fact you weren’t there.”
She shrugged. “I needed a break from it, honestly. I won’t miss another game.” She frowned and played with a button on my shirt, her voice a little breathless. “You never came home, Jonah.”
“I crashed at my dad’s, I swear.” My voice got too high at the thought of her worrying. How could I possibly think of another human when she took up all of my thoughts and emotions?
She hummed against me and squeezed her arms tighter. God, I wanted to stay like this forever. “When you wanted to talk yesterday morning, I was so afraid you were going to end things, so I avoided it,” she said, her face pressed into my chest.
“That’swhy you were so weird? I thoughtyouwere going to end it,” I said, laughter escaping me. We’d both feared the same thing and acted stupid because of it. “I’m yours until you’re done with me. I mean it.”
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with love and her lips parted. I couldn’t imagine not receiving her smiles and her teases, or not loving her. On missing out on those moments where she made food when I was sad or attempted to do a workout with me. I wanted it all.
She gave me a sly look, and a blush filled her cheeks. “I don’t think you need to worry about that happening.”
“Yeah?” My heart fucking soared, and I dropped a kiss to her mouth. “Why’s that?”
She pursed her pretty lips and narrowed her eyes for a beat. “Because I don’t ever fall for people. I avoid feelings and getting too invested in people. Losing my parents almost destroyed me. You, my dear roommate, are in. You snuck past all my walls and self-protected guards. I fellhard,and I love you so much it kinda terrifies me.”
How did I get so damn lucky?I kissed her again, this time softer and with tongue. She kissed me right back until the bell rang. She jumped back, blushedhard,and smoothed down her apron before looking over my shoulder. Her panicked expression shifted to amusement, and I spun around, snorting at Michael standing in the café with his arms crossed.
“Good. Glad you both got your shit together.”
“Wow, you came here to make sure?” Ryann asked, her eyes tearing up. “Michael…”
“Nope.” He held up his hand. “Not a word. I wasn’t here. I don’t love this.” He shook his head back and forth but had a hint of a smile on his face. “I need to get drunk.”
He marched out without another look, and I picked Ryann up and set her on the counter. The last patron hadn’t looked up from their book, so I kissed her again, deeper. “When can you leave?”
