“It would feel like it, though,” I counter. “I just got here. I’m still figuring things out. I don’t want to be someone who needs saving.”
He steps closer, not trying to crowd me, but enough so I can feel his presence. “This isn’t about me saving you,” he says. “It’s about knowing you’re safe while we figure this out. I understand you want to do things on your own, but I’m not going to let you go through this alone either.”
I hesitate, and he sees it.
“You’re not a burden, Brinley,” he adds. “And you don’t owe me or anyone anything. Stay a week or two. However long you need, or until you find somewhere else if you want.”
I fold my arms, more out of habit than defensiveness.
“When I moved here, everything was already full. Students were moving back on campus, so all the places were taken before I got a chance. I just got lucky finding this place. It was cheap and available, so I took it.”
“And now you’re realizing that cheap doesn’t necessarily mean safe,” he points out.
I nod. “I was thinking about finding another place. Somewhere that might have more security, so this just speeds things along.”
His jaw tightens, exposing he doesn’t love the idea, but he isn’t going to say it either.
“Okay,” I say finally. “I’ll stay there. For now.”
Relief flashes over his face so fast, he doesn’t even have a chance to hide it.
“It’s temporary, though.”
“Temporary,” he agrees without hesitation. “We can look together, if you want. Or not, whatever you decide. I know the area, though, so maybe I can help.”
I exhale, and the weight I hadn’t realized was pressing down on my chest loosens a bit.
“Alright, then I guess I should probably pack.”
He lingers near the door while I gather my things. It doesn’t take long, considering I don’t have much. I still hadn’t brought in some of the clothes packed up in the back seat.
I grab the groceries I bought yesterday and shove them into one of my cloth bags, tossing my toiletries into another. Cooper takes them from my hands, and I adjust my backpack and purse on my shoulder. “Is this everything?” he asks.
I nod.
As we step outside into the night together, I remind myself again that this is temporary.
But when he stays close, adjusting the bags in his grip before settling his free hand at the small of my back, it tells me something else entirely.
This isn’t me being rescued.
It’s me choosing, for the first time, not to do this alone.
Chapter Thirteen
Cooper
I’m still hard from the kiss we shared. The desire to pull her into my arms again doesn’t just fade because I push it away.
My body hasn’t caught up to my head yet, and judging by how I have to keep my hands busy as she packs, it might be a while. A restless energy buzzes under my skin that has nothing to do with arousal and everything to do with her being near me again.
It doesn’t take her long.
She doesn’t have much, and that realization leaves a pang in my chest. A duffel, her backpack, and a couple of cloth grocery bags that she shoved a few measly food items and her toiletries into. That’s it.
No drawers to empty. No boxes tucked away. No sign that she ever intended this place to be permanent.
I don’t say anything about it. I just grab what I can and help her carry the rest out to her car. The parking lot is mostly empty now. The bar is quiet behind us.
