“Because I’m causing you a lot of stress.”
“It’s not your fault everyone wants a piece of you.”
“But it kind of is. My past is haunting both of us, and I hate it.” He brushes my hair over my shoulders. “But this.” He wipes my tears away. “Where I get to be the one you come to when things are hard, Tally, it’s exactly what I want with you. I want to be the person you lean on and confide in. Don’t be brave for me. I want all your feelings. I want your laughter, and your dreams, and hopes and fears. I want you to feel safe to cry with me. Okay?”
“I just want to be able to handle this.”
“Handle what, exactly?”
“This.” I motion between us. “You and me.”
“You’re telling me how you feel and that it’s been hard. You’re being honest and open, and to me that’s handling things. Add in everything else, and you’re a freaking superstar, Talls. I think you’re used to being everything for everyone else. You don’t have to do that for me. I want to take care of you. It makes me happy when I can do things for you.” He kisses me lightly on the lips.
I finger the hair at the nape of his neck. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, and it scares me.”
“It’s intense, right?” He runs his hands up and down my back.
“Yeah.”
“All-consuming?” He strokes my cheek.
“It hurts when you’re away,” I admit.
“It’s the same for me. I couldn’t get to you fast enough.” Flip kisses me. “Let me be your solid ground.”
I nod and hug him, and he hugs me back, like he’s holding us together.
I can’t hide from the truth anymore. My heart is already his.
CHAPTER 37
FLIP
Quinn sneezes for the tenth time in a row.
“I think you might be allergic to cats,” Tally notes. She has a kitten perched on her shoulder, and she’s holding another one like a baby. Three other cats sit at her feet, staring up at her like she’s their queen.
Hemi organized a promo op with the local cat shelter Tally volunteers at. It’s where Parsnip came from and it’s run by a woman named Kitty Hart—not a joke. We’re here to pose with the wily furballs for a charity calendar. It won’t be released until next year, but the plan is to help the shelter raise funds for their hard to home wing, so the long lead time should be fantastic.
Dallas tries to pick up a cat, but it swats his hand and hisses. Tristan is cuddling two kittens, and my sister is looking at him like he’s dinner. Kellan is holding a tabby cat who keeps trying to lick his jaw. Connor looks ridiculously regal petting the three-legged sphynx cat perched on his lap. There’s a good chance it’s going home with him based on the number of photos Dred has taken.
Shilpa is in charge of making sure Pavin, their toddler with an endless supply of curiosity and energy, doesn’t try to love thecats to death or use their tails as a leash while Ash juggles two gorgeous Bengal siblings.
We even convinced Roman and Hollis to come out, plus a few of our other teammates, so we’ll have a complete calendar.
“You should probably go first, Quinn,” Hemi suggests.
“Good call.”
He moves to the studio space, and Hemi passes him a beautiful orange and white striped cat who is absolutely in love with Quinn based on the way she’s trying to nuzzle him.
Tally pulls out her phone and snaps a bunch of pictures.
“Why are you taking pictures of Quinn?” I murmur.
She glances at me, eyebrow arched. “Don’t be jealous.”
“But seriously, why?”
