“Don’t what?” he asked.
“Don’t say things like that… or—”
“Or what?” he cut in. “Talk to you? That’s all I’m doing. I’m right here, Koko.”
The words sat between us, and I tightened my hold on the door like that alone was enough to keep me from doing something stupid.
I was supposed to be done.
Mad.
Over him.
But my body didn’t move.
Not back.
Not forward.
Just… there.
His eyes stayed on mine, not rushing me, not pushing either.
Just waiting.
He already knew how this was about to go, and I hated that too.
I exhaled slowly, my grip on everything, this conversation, the door, loosening just a little.
Because he wasn’t trying to argue me down.
Wasn’t trying to convince me.
He was just there.
He wasn’t going anywhere.
My hand dropped from the door, and before I could think too hard about it… I stepped back.
Just one step.
But it was enough.
He walked in like this was where he belonged. And just like that, everything I’d been holding together started slipping.
The door clicked shut behind him, and I stayed right where I was, facing forward, even though I felt him all over me: at my back, my side, everywhere. Smothering.
Too close.
“You can back up,” I said, my voice steady in a way I no longer felt.
“I could,” he replied, but didn’t move.
I turned to get away and walked straight into him. My breath caught, and I leaned into him, my body reacting faster than my mind could catch up.
His eyes dropped to my mouth for a second, and that alone was enough to make my knees lock in place.
Damn.
