“Fine,” she said, her tone softening. “I really care about you, Will.”
“Goodnight, Blake,” I said, hanging up before the guilt could take root.
For a moment, I sat there in the quiet of the garage, staring at the dashboard. Tomorrow, I’d set her free. But tonight, all I wanted was Natalie.
When I stepped inside, Natalie was curled up on the couch, her knees tucked against her chest.
“Everything okay?” she asked as I walked over to her.
“It will be,” I said, sitting beside her. “I need to talk to Blake tomorrow. End things. Even if you decide you don’t want this, I can’t keep stringing her along. I’m cheating on her, and I’m not in love with her.”
Natalie’s lips pressed together, and she looked away briefly before meeting my eyes. “I’m sorry I came between you two.”
I studied her, trying to read her expression. “I don’t think you are,” I said with a small smile.
She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Maybe I’m not. But I do feel bad. You are hard to get over.”
I leaned closer to her, drawn to her in a way I couldn’t explain. “You don’t have to get over me, Natalie.”
Her lips parted, and for a second, I thought she might argue. Instead, she tilted her head up and lightly grabbed my face and kissed me. Soft at first, then deeper, letting the rest of the world fall away.
“Let’s go to bed,” I murmured.
Upstairs, I handed her the overnight bag she’d brought earlier. She rummaged through it, pulling out some cozy clothes before disappearing into the bathroom. When she returned, her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and she was wearing an oversized sweatshirt that made her look beautiful.
“You look hot,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. Blake had dressed herself in silk and lace to be desired. Natalie, standing there with her hair piled up and an old sweatshirt hanging off her frame, made me want her in a way that was far more consuming, because it wasn’t about show.It was her.
We brushed our teeth side by side at the double vanity. Her movements were calm and deliberate, each action thoughtful and precise. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, so composed, so aware of every little detail. It’s one of the things I admired most about her. But even in her quiet confidence, I could still sense her hesitation.
“You’re so neat,” she said, glancing around the bathroom. “It still barely looks like anyone lives here.”
I smiled. “Think you could get used to it?”
She didn’t answer.
“Maybe you could mess it up a little,” I added, watching her in the mirror.
Her cheeks flushed as she turned away, pretending not to hear.
I didn’t push, I just finished getting ready and climbed into bed.
When she joined me, she hesitated for just a moment before curling up beside me, her head resting on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close.
“You, okay?” I asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Yeah. Just thinking,” she said softly.
“About?”
She let out a small laugh. “Everything. You. Me. How this could all work.”
“It will work,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ll make sure it does.”
She didn’t reply right away. When she spoke, her voice was quiet. “We’ll see.”
Her words hung in the air as I pressed a kiss to her forehead. She fit so perfectly in my arms, like she was meant to be there.
But I couldn’t ignore the nagging thought in the back of my mind—what if it wasn’t enough for her? Were we back where we started?And am I willing to wait while she decides? All the power in her hands.
