24. Chapter 24
This time when Ceth awoke, there was no searching. Krystal was curled up in the bed right beside her. Ceth couldn’t remember a sight ever filling her with so much happiness and hope. It was almost like a dream.
Of course, they couldn’t wake up like this every day.
They lived in cities a hundred or so miles apart and, when Ceth took the new job, she’d live even farther away.
But she knew they’d work all that out. And for now, she simply enjoyed the moment of being together now.
She was so glad they’d both decided to stay an extra day even though the conference was over. They’d needed this time.
Ironically, given the fact they were now in a committed relationship, they hadn’t had sex the night before. Instead, they’d stayed up late talking about the logistics of spending time together and plans for the future before falling asleep in each other’s arms. It had been perfect.
Speaking of perfect, Krystal finally stirred awake, yawning wide and opening those blue-green eyes Ceth loved. When she noticed Ceth watching her, she smiled, but a hint of pink dusted her cheeks as well.
“Stahhp looking at meee,” she whined sleepily. “I’m such a mess when I first wake up.”
Ceth barked out a laugh. “Krystal, I’ve seen you first thing in the morning lots of times.”
Her blush deepened. “Yeah, but I wasn’t your girlfriend at the time.”
A thrill rushed through Ceth’s chest at the word, and she reached over and ran her fingers through Krystal’s mussed hair. “No, you weren’t. Maybe that’s why you look even more beautiful this time.”
Krystal giggled and buried her head in Ceth’s chest. “Always the charmer.”
“I was just making an observation,” Ceth quipped. “And it makes me even more grateful we ended up having to share a room at the conference.”
She felt rather than heard Krystal draw in a sharp breath. Slowly, Krystal pulled back. “Yeah…about that.”
Ceth frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Krystal’s cheeks were getting even pinker. “The reason we ended up sharing was because I saw you were here before I checked in and specifically asked Maddox to trade our assigned suitemates.”
“You did?!” Ceth half sat up in shock.
“Yes.” Krystal chewed her lip then began speaking quickly.
“I asked Maddox not to tell you my name when they told you about the change, but if you seemed dead set against having a different suitemate, I’d understand and wouldn’t want them to get in trouble by insisting.
I-I guess you didn’t have a problem with it, though, since you showed up here in the room.
And I can see now that it looks like I trapped you into talking to me, but I didn’t mean it that way. I only wanted a chance.”
Ceth sat up more fully but couldn’t seem to find the words to respond yet.
Krystal sat up too and slid her hand over to hold Ceth’s. “I know I’ve done some questionable things up to this point: the room switch, dredging up the past, convincing you I was getting over a breakup to talk you into sleeping with me…”
She winced then swallowed before continuing.
“And I’m so sorry. I really, really want this to work out with you.
And I want to promise here and now: that if you still want to move forward with me, I’ll be truthful and open with you.
But I’ll be those things even if you’ve decided you don’t want to move forward. You deserve nothing less.”
Ceth shook her head and smiled, squeezing Krystal’s hand. “Of course I still want to move forward. I think I’m just kind of floored you went to all that trouble for me.”
The incredulity in her voice was obvious to Ceth, so it probably was to Krystal too, which was a little embarrassing, but she couldn’t help it.
Krystal had wanted to connect with her again as soon as she saw her and had gone to surprising lengths to make that happen. She truly believed Ceth was worth it.
Krystal raised their joined hands and kissed the back of Ceth’s.
Then she shrugged. “I wanted you. I didn’t exactly see if or how that might work out at the start of all this, but I can admit it now.
Maybe I should have told you the first day that I’d had feelings for you all those years ago and that being around you now stirred them up all over again.
But that probably would have scared you. ”
At Krystal’s self-deprecating chuckle, Ceth raised a hand to her cheek.
“Maybe not as much as you’d think. The things you were feeling that first day of the conference?
I was feeling them too. I wouldn’t have been bold enough to admit it, but I was already getting this wild hope that maybe you and I could be friends again and maybe more. ”
“You were?” Krystal’s voice was soft and bright.
Ceth nodded then frowned. “But I know you had my reputation to contend with. For the past several years, I’ve had my fair share of casual flings.
It was all I thought I was cut out for. But being with you never felt casual to me, not even that first night we were together. It was so much more. In fact—”
When Ceth looked away but didn’t continue, Krystal scooted in closer, twisting around so she could catch Ceth’s eye. “In fact?”
Heat prickled in Ceth’s face. “This is going to sound silly.”
Krystal threw back her head and laughed. “Silly? Have you heard some of the stuff that comes out of my mouth?”
Ceth chuckled and traced a finger over Krystal’s lips. “I like your mouth.”
“Don’t change the subject,” Krystal said, even as she leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on Ceth’s lips.
Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slowly, Ceth said, “All this time, I’ve told myself I only did casual because I didn’t believe I was meant for something serious. But I’m starting to think that I also didn’t want serious with anyone…because they weren’t you.”
Krystal made a tiny gasp sound, but Ceth forged ahead before she lost her nerve.
“Krystal, when I came into this room the first day and saw you standing here...I was surprised, for sure. And happy. Like unbelievably happy. But also, I was—I don’t know how to describe it—relieved.
Like my whole body, brain, and nervous system were all saying, Finally. There she is.”
Ceth paused a moment and simply lingered in the accuracy of the description. Her hands shook the tiniest bit, maybe from how raw and open she felt. But she wouldn’t take it back.
When she finally looked at Krystal, there was a bright sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Ceth,” she said in a half-sob, “that’s the sweetest, most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
Ceth’s face heated even more, but she sent Krystal a smile. “Well, it’s the truth. Even if it took us becoming strangers for a night for me to realize it.”