Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Alonzo
F or the second time in two days, I watched Maya sleep.
I marveled at how I was close enough to make out the shadows of her lashes where they fanned out beneath her eyes, to hear the soft roll of her breath as it passed between her parted lips.
She had a white scar just beneath her chin, like she’d bumped it against a surfboard.
Behind her ear was a mole so faint you’d miss it if you didn’t know where to look.
Knowing about its existence made me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
I wanted to map every single mark on her body and memorize each of her tattoos. Wanted to discover the stories behind them and know Maya trusted me enough to share them.
We could get there. She’d already begun to let me in. We just needed more time …but she was leaving on Friday.
Maya’s eyes fluttered open, and I watched as awareness set in. She sat up in a rush, holding the blanket to her chest. “What time is it?”
Sitting up too, I reached for my phone. “Two-sixteen.” Sixteen minutes past our cutoff time. “Are you kicking me out?”
She hesitated, and disappointment sank in my stomach.
“It’s alright,” I told her, wanting to preempt the rejection that was written on her face. The past few hours had been more than I’d bargained for or even expected to get at the start of the day. I wouldn’t fault her for sticking to our terms.
“It’s a workday,” she said in what must have been the gentlest voice I’d heard from her.
“A school day for me.” I chuckled humorlessly.
“That’s work too, right? You’re working toward your career by studying.” Her brows lifted. “Am I wrong?”
A genuine smile spread across my face. This girl . “No.”
You’re perfect .
I gave in to the urge to reach for her. For a second, she froze, and so did I.
Not wanting to pressure her, I moved back, but she leaned toward me and we were soon kissing.
It felt like diving off a cliff and landing in a cloud—exhilarating and comforting at once.
Then she was on me, the sheet falling between us so her taut nipples pressed against my chest.
“Shit.” Pulling away, Maya muttered, “You need to go.”
“I can stay longer.”
“Next time—” Her eyes went wide.
Hope lit up inside me. “Next time, huh?”
“Forget I said that,” she answered quickly.
“Too late. I’m holding you to it.” I kissed her again. It was a gentle meeting of lips that seemed innocuous compared to everything else we’d done, and yet it resounded deep in my chest.
She drew away from me, lifting the sheet to cover her breasts. “Time’s up, Manila.”
Back to Manila. She was putting her walls back up, pretending I was just some passing stranger.
But I wouldn’t let her. “This isn’t just a hookup, Maya.”
“That’s all I’m looking for.”
“I’m not some random you met online or at a bar, someone who’s just looking to get off. I’m in this for you . I was always just in this for you.”
“You’re looking for a rebound.”
“If I had been, I would have gone for someone convenient. Someone I could forget,” I said. “The distance between us is far from convenient, but you make me want to go out of my way to see you. To be with you. You’re under my skin, Maya. You’re branded into my brain, and I could never forget you.”
Swallowing, she moved her gaze past me. “You should go.”
“Not until you believe what I say.”
“Alonzo. I can’t do this now.”
The plea in her voice killed the argument on the tip of my tongue. “Fine. Let’s talk about it another time.”
“We said one night.”
“We didn’t say just one. I would have all of them if you let me.”
“I’m leaving on Friday.”
“I know. I just—give me these three days.” I grimaced as my brain corrected me. “These three nights.” I had a shift tomorrow, but I’d find a way to be with her. I would give up sleeping if I had to.
A debate seemed to play out across Maya’s face. “What about your classes?” she asked, frowning. “You said you could randomly get called for recitations.”
“I can study in the mornings. Who needs sleep?”
She shook her head. “I won’t be the reason you get low grades. I’ve already taken up too much of your time.”
I’d resent my degree even more if pursuing it meant I had to give up being with the people who mattered to me. Putting my hand on her cheek, I said, “We only have three more nights, Maya.”
“We were just supposed to have one.”
“Is that enough for you? Because it’s not for me.” Not even close. I searched her face, needing to find a sign that she felt anything remotely close to what I felt for her. This desperate need for more. More time, more conversations, more…Maya.
She closed her eyes.
“Let me take you out tonight,” I murmured as I outlined the curve of her bottom lip with my thumb. “I’ll convince you that Manila’s not so bad.”
Her eyes opened. “Tall task.”
“Is that a yes?” I cautioned myself not to get my hopes up, but they were already halfway to the ceiling.
Her lip pressed together. “Two nights. My bus leaves at seven p.m. on Friday.”
One night less than what I wanted, but it was more than I thought I’d get. My cheeks hurt from how widely I was grinning.
“On one condition,” she said loudly, like she knew I had taken her agreement and run miles with it in the span of mere seconds.
“Name it.”
“I see you studying.” Her lifted brow told me that not agreeing would be a dealbreaker.
As if I would have argued with anything she said at that moment. “Done.”
An hour later, I was at my desk at home, freshly showered and armed with a mug of coffee. I had just opened my book when my phone pinged. My heart leapt.
Maya
A+
Yep.
I was a goner.