Her eyes widen, vulnerability shining through. She looks at me like I’m offering her the world.
“You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack.” I brush a tear from her cheek. “But I’m gonna need you to talk to me. I’m not a mind reader, and we’ve got a history of getting our wires crossed.”
Her lip quivers. “I don’t deserve you.”
I pull her tight against me, my hands gripping her waist. “You deserve everything, Cecilia. Fucking everything.”
She clings to me for a long moment, then pulls back just slightly. “I want a fresh start,” she says softly. “Like, really start over. Date each other. But slow. I think I need slow with everything going on, but I want to give us a try.”
I nod, my heart slamming against my ribs. "We’ll take it as slow as you need. I’m not going anywhere."
She exhales, the tension melting from her shoulders. “And … maybe no sex for a while,” she adds quickly. “I just … I want to make sure we’re building something real, you know?”
The no-sex part stings a little, but I get it. “If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Her smile returns, and this time it feels real. “Really?”
“Really.” I cup her cheek, brushing my thumb across her skin. “I’m in this for the long haul.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, resting her head against my chest.
We stand there, wrapped up in each other, the smell of coffee and the warmth of her body grounding me like a blanket. For the first time in a long time, it feels like we’re on the same page. Like we actually have a shot at making this work.
“I’ll take you out,” I murmur into her hair. “Proper dates. Dinner, movies, whatever you want.”
She chuckles softly, the sound vibrating through my chest. “I’d like that.”
“Good,” I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Because I’ve got a lot of making up to do, and I plan on spoiling you rotten.”
Her laugh is soft and genuine, and it’s the best sound I’ve heard in weeks. “I’m looking forward to it,” she says, her fingers tracing the edge of my jaw.
We’re interrupted by the sound of shuffling feet, and we both glance toward the doorway to find my roommates lingering awkwardly.
“Uh, hey,” Atticus rubs the back of his neck, his face a little red. “We didn’t want to interrupt, but …”
Felix pushes his way into the room, Julio right behind him. “But we’re starving,” Felix says. “And we need caffeine before practice.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. It’s so typical of them that I can’t help but grin. “Alright, alright. Pancakes, bacon, and eggs, coming right up.” I turn to Cecilia. “You up for it?”
She grins, nodding. “Absolutely.”
CHAPTER 79
GABRIEL
The guys settle into the space, banter flying, jokes easy and sharp. Cecilia and I work side by side, laughing and teasing like old times. As we move around the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon filling the air, a sense of normalcy settles over us. The kind of normal that used to feel so far away.
The ease of it all tugs at something deep inside me, making it feel like we’ve stepped into a kind of comfortable rhythm. It’s chaotic, but it feels right. Like maybe, just maybe, this thing between us has a real chance.
“You know,” Deacon says, his voice casual as he leans against the counter, “if this whole soccer thing doesn’t work out, you could always open a café.”
I snort. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Cecilia chuckles beside me, shooting me a playful look. The warmth in her gaze settles the leftover tension from earlier, and I can’t help but smile back. It feels like we’re getting there—slowly, but we’re getting there.
“Here, let me get that,” I say, reaching to help her pour the batter onto the griddle. Our hands brush, and I let my fingerslinger just for a second longer than necessary. She grins, and for a moment, everything feels easy.
