Page 29 of Only Be Mine

And I realized, terrified and bright, that I wanted it too.

“Okay,” I heard myself say.

John blinked. “Okay?”

“Okay,” I repeated, heart pounding. “We can… do that.”

His smile was slow this time. Not triumphant or smug.

Just happy.

“Great,” he said quietly, like he didn’t want to startle me. “Tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow?” I squeaked.

He laughed. “Not patient enough for tomorrow?”

I glared. “You're the one who said you were patient.”

“I am,” he said. “I’m just also… interested.”

My stomach flipped.

“There’s a difference,” he added. “Between patience and pretending I don’t want you here.”

The words hit me like a low note. Warm and dangerous.

I swallowed. “Fine. Tomorrow.”

His eyes brightened. “Pick-up at seven?”

“Pick-up?” I repeated, suspicious.

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice like it was a secret. “I’ll even open your car door.”

“Oh my God,” I muttered.

He laughed, eyes crinkling. “You’ll survive.”

I tried to roll my eyes, but my mouth betrayed me with a smile.

Baby made a soft huff under the table, like she approved.

We sat there for another hour, talking. Not deep things. Not heavy things. Just… life. Music. Food. Places we’d never been. He listened like he wanted to remember. I found myself answering like it mattered.

And at some point, somewhere between laughter and a quiet pause, I realized I wasn’t checking the door anymore.

I was looking at him.

Just him.

The realization made my chest tighten again, but this time it wasn’t fear. It was something else.

Something like stepping into warm light after being cold for too long.

When I finally glanced at the time, my stomach dropped.

“I should go,” I said.