“I’m scared that when this is over,” she whispers, voice barely there, “it’s gonna hurt.”
“I know.”
What I don’t say is that it already does.
“I don’t want to lose everything on a maybe.”
I tighten my hold. “You won’t.”
She pulls back just enough to look up at me. “How do you know?”
“Za loves you too much,” I say. No hesitation. “She won’t survive losing you.”
Her throat bobs. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“I know,” I say again, softer this time. “It’s okay.”
She presses her forehead into my chest, eyes closed now.
“Part of me wants to stop,” she admits. “Because I know it’s wrong.”
My body goes still and every muscle locks.
I don’t interrupt.
“But the other part,” she continues, voice unsteady but honest, “wants it more than anything.”
I breathe out slowly. “You’re not alone.”
She looks up again. “Really?”
“The best part of my day is seeing you,” I admit. There’s no point pretending now. “I can’t even remember the last time I enjoyed a match without thinking about you. I don’t enjoy anything if I’m not thinking of you. You don’t know how badly I want you.”
She studies me properly then.
Green eyes sharp, searching for the lie. For the angle. She doesn’t find one.
Her mouth curves, already retreating back into safety.
“I guess,” she says lightly. “I could spare an minute or two. For a fan.”
She’s playing it off, still not ready to give it all or even hint that she actually wanted to stay. Still, I don’t argue. I don’t joke.
I just lean down and kiss her. Though she hesitates, she doesn’t pull away.
Say it…
My mind wants to admit things my heart can’t handle yet. I can’t risk whatever we have right now when it’s so fragile. So I torture myself instead. Backing us into the bed, preparing to sleep with her again, knowing it will only dig us deeper. Well, dig me deeper.
I’m above her, braced on my forearms, weight held carefully so I don’t pin her down. Her hands are loose at my sides, not pushing or pulling but there.
“Frankie—”
Her phone lights up.
Vibrates once. Then again.I glance toward the bedside table and catch the name before she even has to say it.
Za.
