Anything, as long as I felt vindicated in my choices.
I’ve been waiting for Matt to claim me. To tell me he loves me.
All this time, I’ve wanted him to love me loud.
But Matt doesn’t love loud.
He loves quietly.
In the way he shows up. The way he wipes my tears when I’m sad. The way he tracks my phone to make sure I’m safe. The way he walks across town when I’m spiraling.
He gives me his credit card.
He takes me to Switzerland.
He stands up to my family.
Jesus Christ.
He doesn’t sleep with me when I know he wants to.
My heartbeat drums louder, picking up speed, swelling in my chest.
Oh my God.
I pull the drain and stand, wiping my eyes and cheeks before drying the rest of my body.
I step into my lace thong and slip into the black satin robe I brought from home, tying it around my waist.
Pulling the elastic from my hair, I tip my head over and use the blow dryer to fluff and dry the damp pieces of hair. Then I wipe the smeared mascara from under my eyes.
It’s not perfect. I’m nowhere near ready.
I open the door anyway.
Matt’s in the living room sitting on the couch, phone in hand. He looks up, clocks my bare legs with a raised brow, then glances at his watch.
“Babe, you gonna be ready in forty minutes?”
“Yep.”
I don’t move as his gaze drags down my body, slow and intentional, sparking a flicker of heat low in my core.
I take a steady breath, trying to quiet the pounding of my pulse, and move toward him.
My body takes over, pushing the fear and doubts somewhere far away. I feel high, my thoughts slipping into a hazy blur, the world narrowing until all that’s left is Matt and the way he’s looking at me.
“What are you doing?” A corner of his mouth curves.
I bite my bottom lip, stepping closer, slotting his knees between my legs. I pluck his phone from his hands and set it aside.
“Babe—”
I climb into his lap, straddling him, my hands sliding along his chest, one slipping behind his neck.
He startles, hands lifting innocently into the air.
I crush my lips to his, hard and needy, kissing him like he’s the only thing I’ve ever really wanted.
