Her arms wrapped around me, and for a full minute, she just held on.
And I held on right back.
When she finally pulled back, her eyes searched mine, something vulnerable flickering behind them. “Did we just survive a fight?”
I chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It wasn’t a fight.”
“Sure felt like one.”
I smirked but kept my tone serious. “You have to explain your thoughts when you get the urge to run, okay?”
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then exhaled slowly. “I was going to leave. After you fell asleep.”
The words hit me like a punch to the ribs.
I shook my head immediately. "None of that. Promise me. I don’t care what happens—don’t leave without talking to me again."
Her gaze dropped, her fingers playing with the fabric of my shirt as she let the words settle. “You’re right,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
The silence stretched, something unspoken hanging between us, and I could feel her walls shifting, teetering between letting me in and shutting me out.
Then, quietly, she asked, “Have you figured out why I ended it two years ago?”
I raised a brow. “Can you read my mind? Are you a wizard?”
She let out a soft laugh, but there was something fragile in her expression, something that told me this wasn’t just a casual conversation anymore.
I tilted my head, keeping my voice gentle but firm. “I have not figured out why you slammed the door in my face and stopped answering my texts.”
She winced, and I knew that was the reaction she expected me to have. I watched her steady herself, her fingers tightening slightly on my wrist.
“It was because I was breaking my own rules,” she admitted, her voice softer now.
A slow, tight pull formed in my chest. I ran my hands up and down her bare thighs, coaxing her to keep going. “Which ones?”
Her eyes met mine, and for a long moment, she said nothing. Then, she took a deep breath and said, “Growing feelings for you."
The words settled between us, heavy and unshakable.
“I was terrified," she continued. "It was easier back then to just stop it before it went too far.” She closed her eyes for a moment before continuing, "I started moving things around for you, not getting As on tests because we were up too late the night before. I realize now I should’ve talked to you, but we agreed to just hook up, and you never indicated you wanted more.”
I did.
I definitely did.
Pulling her closer, I ignored every warning bell telling me she could still run, telling me to proceed with caution.
“What’s different now?” My voice was a murmur against her skin. “Why give us a chance?”
Her fingers curled into my shirt, gripping tight, like she needed something solid to hold on to. She didn’t hesitate. “I’m not ready to let you go.”
The words landed like a weight in my chest. I exhaled slowly, then pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, letting her words sink in.
“You’re going to kill me,” I muttered, my lips still against her skin. “But I think it’ll be worth it.”
She didn’t say anything when I moved us under the covers, didn’t argue when I turned off the lights and pulled her into my chest.
But she didn’t leave, either. That was enough.
