Chapter 19
The door clicks shut behind Spence, and suddenly the massive bed feels too big, too empty. I can hear the low rumble of his voice through the door—controlled, tight, definitely not happy.
My stomach twists.
I scoot up against the headboard, pulling my knees to my chest. “Music, volume up.”
Michael Bublé's smooth voice fills the room, crooning about being home for Christmas, and I try to focus on the lyrics instead of the muffled conversation happening in the hallway.
It's probably just team stuff. Mission updates. Nothing to do with—I jump when my phone dings with an incoming text.
ROSALIE: Hey! Just checking in.”
I nearly fumble the phone. What do I say? Oh my god.
ME: It's incredible. Like a winter wonderland underground. How are you guys?
ROSALIE: Snowed in but cozy. Justice is on the phone right now actually...
My heart stops.
ROSALIE: With Spence.
Oh god.
ME: Is everything okay?
ROSALIE: That's what I'm trying to figure out. Justice got all tense and excused himself to the bedroom. Very mysterious.
ME: Probably just checking in?
ROSALIE: Liberty Anne Cruze, do NOT play innocent with me. What is happening there?
I stare at my phone, heat flooding my face. How does she know?
ME: Nothing! We decorated the tree. Had dinner. Dessert. Then some snacks. This place is completely stocked...like 5-star stocked. Anyway, it's all very wholesome.
ROSALIE: Uh huh. And where are you right now?
ME: ...in bed.
ROSALIE: AND WHERE IS SPENCE?
ME: In the hallway. On the phone. With your husband. WHO, APPARENTLY IS PSYCHIC.
Three dots appear, disappear, appear again. Then my phone actually rings.
“Oh my god, you cannot call me right now,” I hiss into the phone, glancing at the door.
“I absolutely can and am.” Rosalie's voice is gleeful, conspiratorial. “Spill. Everything. Now.”
“There's nothing to—”
“Liberty. I have known you for exactly eight months, and I can count on one hand the number of times you've texted me past nine PM. It's almost midnight, and you're wide awake in bed while a smoking hot former SEAL is on the phone with my very protective husband. Connect the dots.”
I drop my face into my free hand. “We're just... spending Christmas together. That's all.”
“In the same bed?”
“How did you—”
“Because you said 'in bed' not 'in my room.' And because Spence has been half in love with you since Justice's wedding and everyone except you two idiots could see it.”
My heart does something complicated in my chest. “He has not.”
“Liberty. Sweetie. The man couldn't take his eyes off you. Justice nearly had a stroke watching it happen.”
“Then why would Marshall orchestrate us being alone together?”
“Because Marshall is smarter than Justice and knows that Spence would rather die than hurt you. Also because he's a meddling romantic who thinks he's Cupid with a security clearance.”
Despite everything, I laugh. “That's... actually accurate.”
“So what happened? And don't you dare say 'nothing' again or I will drive through this blizzard right now.”
I take a breath. “We decorated the tree. Talked. Went swimming. And then... he asked me to sleep next to him. Just sleep. Nothing else.”
Rosalie's quiet for a beat. “That's the most romantic thing I've ever heard.”
“Really?”
“Liberty, that man could have you in every way possible, and he's choosing just to hold you? To make you feel safe first? That's...” She makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like she's tearing up. “That's everything.”
My throat tightens. “I'm terrified.”
“Of him?”
“No. Never him.” I glance at the door again. “Of this being real. Of wanting it too much. Of Justice losing his mind and ruining everything before it even starts.”
“Justice will come around. He just needs to process that his baby sister is a grown woman who gets to make her own choices. Even if those choices involve his teammate.”
“What if—”
“No what-ifs. Not tonight. Tonight you're in a magical cave with a man who clearly adores you. Let yourself have this, Lib. You deserve it.”
Tears prick my eyes. “I don't know how.”
“Yes, you do. You're already doing it.” Her voice softens. “Now I'm going to let you go before Spence comes back and wonders why you're crying. But Liberty? I'm really happy for you.”
“Thank you. For everything. I love you, sis.”
We say goodbye, and I set the phone down with shaking hands. The music's still playing, the room is surreal, and my heart hurts it feels so big.
Feeling the weight of everything, I drop my face into my hands, trying to breathe through the sudden rush of emotion.
I jerk my head up to find Spence in the doorway, his expression worried, eyes searching my face with an intensity that steals my breath.
“I'm fine,” I say automatically, but my voice cracks on the words.
He's across the room in three strides, kneeling beside the bed so we're at eye level. His hands frame my face, thumbs brushing away tears I didn't realize had fallen.
“Talk to me.”