And I desperately need to believe him.
He leans down to my face and brushes his lips against mine. I let him hold me for a few seconds, before he pulls away slowly, taking my last shred of reasoning with him.
“I know this wasn’t part of our agreement, but this is a special occasion.”
“Why is it special?”
“Because you’ve finally understood.”
“Understood what?”
“That you don’tjustlike me. In the same way that I don’t just like you.”
I watch him pad down the stairs, my heart in my throat, fully aware that I’m overstepping every boundary, and so close to tearing up every agreement I’ve ever set for myself.
Niall
Skylar comes up to me as I’m chopping carrots in the kitchen.
“I have to ask you something.”
I freeze, my knife in mid-air, and look at her.
“Shall I put this down, to be safe? Or can I keep chopping?”
“You can keep chopping.”
I don’t trust myself, so I place the knife on the chopping board. I lean back against the counter and cross my arms. “Shoot.”
“I wanted to ask you if I have to ask your permission before I do something.”
“Does that sound like a question to you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not used to you, yet.”
True.
“I don’t know if you expect me to ask you stuff.”
“Well, I assume that’s how it works.”
She shrugs. “I guess so.”
I clear my throat. “Did you ask your mother permission for things?”
“For some things, yeah. Otherwise she just trusted me.”
“Okay…” I think about this for a moment. “Let’s say that, for now, you have to ask me before you do something. Then slowly we can work out where the boundaries lie. What do you think?”
“That works.”
“So, go on. What do you want to ask?”
“I want to invite Carter over for dinner.”
My mouth drops open; but her sharp glare reminds me immediately to close it again.
“I need him to help me with a project.”
