She blushes, and before I can stop her, she lifts off my body and climbs from the bed. Instantly, I feel cold, bereft, alone.
She stands next to the bed, shuffling from one foot to the other. She puts a thumb over her shoulder, pointing at the bathroom. “Uh, I’ll be right back.”
I nod, watching her go, the door clicking softly behind her. The room feels different the second she’s gone. It all feels quieter, heavier. I drag a hand down my face, then clean myself up, pull on my shorts, and sit on the edge of the bed.
At first, I tell myself not to overthink it. People need a minute. Totally normal.
But the minutes stretch, and the longer she’s gone, the more I begin to unravel. My knee starts bouncing. My mind starts racing, replaying everything that happened. Every touch, every sound, every look on her face. Did I miss something? Did I push too far? Was she just… going along with it? “Shit.”
I stand and move toward the bathroom door, hesitating for half a second before knocking lightly. “Lindsey?”
Slowly, she opens the door, and the sight of her hits me like a punch straight to the gut. Her eyes are glassy, and tears are streaking down her cheeks. “Baby, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? I shouldn’t have?—”
She shakes her head and surprises me by slamming her body to mine. “No, please don’t apologize.”
Her skin is still warm, bare against mine, and for a split second, my body reacts on instinct before my brain catches up. Not now.Fuck, Miller, get yourself together.
“Hey, hey…” I murmur, sliding my hands under her thighs and lifting her. She clings to me, burying her face in my neck as I carry her over to the chair. I sit, settling her on my lap, then reach for the throw draped over the back and wrap it around her shoulders.
“Talk to me, baby.” I brush the hair from her face. “I hate seeing you like this.”
She’s wiping at her eyes, embarrassed, and I gently catch her hands. I use my thumbs and wipe her cheeks.
I wait for her to talk to me, but it’s killing me seeing herlike this.
She laughs softly. “Oh my God, you have to think I’m crazy.”
I shake my head. “No. Not even a little.”
She takes a deep breath and tries to steady herself. “I’m sorry. I… I really did enjoy being with you.”
I let out a breath of relief. “Then why are you crying?” I ask gently.
“I just needed a moment to myself. I had a thought that I wanted to call my sister, and you know, it all just hit me. I’ll never be able to call her again.”
I pull her against my chest and stroke her back with my hand. “Oh, Lindsey, I’m so sorry, honey.”
She breaks then, and the tears turn into sobs, her body shaking against mine.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, over and over, pressing my lips to her wet cheeks. “I’ve got you.”
The tears slow, and I give her a second to center herself.
She softens in my arms, tracing her finger against my chest. “You know, my sister thought I was crazy. She tried to talk me into calling you. She knew I wanted to, but as the time when on, I felt foolish, and I thought that?—”
Her voice trails off, but I’m completely attuned to her and dying to know what she was going to say. “You thought what?”
She lifts her wet eyes and looks at me. “That you would break my heart in the end and I was better off if I just stayed away.”
I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. “I won’t break your heart.”
Her eyes search mine like she’s trying to decide if she can trust me or not. Then she wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me close, and her lips brush my skin as she whispers, “I’m going to hold you to that, Miller.”
“Good,” I murmur, tightening my hold on her.
We sit like this, tangled together. Each second that passes, the tension from her body slowly starts to drain away, and her breaths even out. Eventually, she starts to drift, and her hold on me loosens, letting me know she’s asleep.
I don’t move.
