“But I don’t feel like your home anymore?”
I couldn’t even look at him as I shook my head. I’d cry if I spoke. Now home felt like a call with Sophia, a coffee shop with upbeat hipster music, or watching a movie with my parents while we all cried. I hung my head as Connor’s warm hand squeezed my shoulder.
“Thank you for sharing that with me. I can’t say I like hearing it, but I love how honest you’re being. In our goal to be honest, I’ll say, if you want to move back to your hometown and want me, I’ll go with you.”
“Connor,” I chided and finally looked at him. His intensegray eyes stared holes in me. His jaw was flexed, and his nostrils flared. “You can’t possibly live outside the city.”
“Laney, you are my happy place. So yes. If you want to try again with me and want to move, I move with you.”
My eyes shut as more tears welled up. “I don’t actually believe you,” I whispered, my voice raspy from the hurt. He’d never step down from the role he had worked so hard for. Or if he did, he’d be miserable and resent me.
“I need to finish the party. Excuse me.”
He didn’t say anything as I forced myself to stay busy. There weren’t many more shots to take, and the takedown was always easier than setup. Connor didn’t need direction as I packed up and he loaded everything into the back of the SUV, not with how many events he’d helped with at the start of our relationship. We had a comfortable rhythm here.
So why did we lose that same rhythm at home?
I said goodbye to the crew and went to grab my jacket when I saw Connor holding it open for me. Without even thinking, I gave him my back, and he slid the coat on me, his fingers lingering on my neck as he lifted my hair. I shivered from his touch, from the differences between us now.
“Thanks for all the help.”
“You’re welcome. I wish I did this more often.” He waited as I buttoned my coat before he sighed. “I don’t know if you’ll like this idea, but I’m thinking we stay at our place tonight and drive back in the morning. I’ve been eyeing the weather, and it’s pretty bad.”
“Stay at home?” My voice squeaked.
His gaze warmed before he nodded. “It would be safer. We could wake up and drive back to your parents’ first thing.”
Spending the night in the same place as Connor. My mind spun. Driving on icy roads terrified me, but the thought of being with him did too. Obviously not in the same way, but what the hell should I do?
“Hon, I’ll sleep in the living room if you want. Please, I don’t want us to get in an accident and have you hurt.” He ran a hand over his jawline. “We could get a hotel instead.”
“Home is fine.” My throat felt like sandpaper. “I’d rather be safe.”
His shoulders sagged in obvious relief. “Me too. Come on, then. Let’s go before it gets worse.” He held out his hand, and I stared at it, nerves almost choking me.
He chuckled. “Baby, you’re wearing heels, and it’s nothing but ice. This isn’t a tactic to win you back. This is about keeping your limbs intact. Promise.”
When he said it like that… fine.
And that’s how I found myself with our fingers interlaced, walking toward our car to spend the night in our condo. It appeared that, the more I tried to distance myself from him, the closer we got.
I just had to survive this night. Because even if I agreed to date him all December—which I knew I’d say yes to—it wouldn’t undo the years of damage.
CHAPTER SIX
CONNOR
Why was I so fucking nervous?
It made zero sense to have my palms sweat and my heart beat so erratically. Each pulse felt like a punch. I knew luck was on my side, that there was the weather and we’d have to stay here. I needed to use this to my advantage since it was damn clear Laney and I wouldn’t spend another night together otherwise.
Focus on the road.
Yeah, the streets were all ice and sleet. I’d driven in my fair share of bad weather, but thank fuck Laney had agreed to wait until tomorrow. This was bad. I shuddered, thinking about her trying to navigate this alone. She would have been terrified. I skidded to the right, then left, and then straightened after we hit a patch of black ice.
“Oh God,” Laney panted and hugged herself. “That was… Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” My tone was clipped. Ten minutes away fromhome. I could do ten minutes. “Distract me. Talk to me about anything.”
