10 #3
I moved closer. “I’m not interested in being with five different versions of you depending on who’s watching.”
Her eyes held mine. “You want only me.”
“Only you.”
The answer seemed to settle something inside her before she frowned.
“But you still keep stopping.”
I laughed beneath my breath. “You came four hours to apologize and still found your way back to that.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“You act like this is some philosophical problem.”
“It isn’t.”
“Then what is it?”
I looked at her closely.
Jeans. Gray shirt. Minimal makeup. Hair pulled back like she hadn’t spent an hour trying to make it perfect.
She was gorgeous.
She also looked exhausted.
I stepped into her space. “I get hard thinking about you, mi hada.”
Charm blinked as color rose into her cheeks.
I kept going. “I want you badly.”
Her lips parted. “Then why—”
“Because I’m careful as fuck with the things that matter to me.”
That stopped her.
I slid one hand around her waist. “I’ve lost a lot in my life.”
Her face softened. “I know.”
“You know pieces, and that’s enough for now.” My thumb moved against her side. “I’m not scared of sex or wanting you. I’m scared of handing over something I care about and finding out later that I misunderstood what it meant to you.”
Charm’s eyes filled again. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“I already did.”
“Yeah.”
She winced.
I let the truth sit between us for a second before pulling her closer. “But you drove four fucking hours to Chicago.”
Her mouth twitched. “I did.”
“That’s insane.”
“I know.”
“You could’ve called.”
“I know.”
“You could’ve waited three days until I got back.”
“I know.”
I stared at her. “You’re crazy.”
She gave me a watery smile. “I know.”
I laughed and finally pulled her against me.
This time, no fight remained inside it.
Charm melted into my chest and wrapped both arms around my waist. I buried my face in her hair.
“I fucking love that you came.”
Her grip tightened. “I needed you to know I was choosing you.”
That nearly undid me.
I pulled back enough to see her face. “You did.”
“I’m still scared.”
“I know.”
“I’m still going to care what my parents think.”
“I know that too.”
“I don’t know how fast I can change that.”
“I’m not asking you to sprint.”
Her eyes searched mine. “Then what are you asking?”
“To keep walking toward me.”
Charm nodded. “I can do that.”
I believed her. Maybe that was stupid, or maybe I was already too far gone to protect myself through doubt.
Either way, I kissed her.
This kiss was slower than the desperate ones from three nights earlier. My hand slid into her hair while hers curled into the front of my hoodie, and when she kissed me back, the frantic edge was gone.
It was simply Charm.
I liked that more.
A knock hit the door.
“Ryan,” somebody called from the hallway. “Twenty minutes.”
I pulled my mouth from hers and cursed beneath my breath.
Charm laughed softly. “You have to go.”
“Unfortunately.”
Her smile faded, and I hated that.
I checked the time. “Three days.”
She nodded. “Three days.”
I took her phone from her hand, and Charm frowned.
“What are you doing?”
I unlocked it with the code she told me weeks earlier, opened her notes app, and typed one sentence in Spanish before handing it back.
Charm read the words, and her brows pulled together.
“What does that mean?”
I smiled. “Translate it.”
She looked suspicious. “That is never a good sign.”
“It’s a very good sign.”
I stepped closer and took her face between both hands. “Three days, mi hada.”
Then I kissed her again.
This one was harder, enough to leave her breathless and make leaving hurt.
When I pulled back, Charm looked dazed.
“Go,” she whispered.
“You sure?”
“No.”
I laughed. “Better answer.”
I picked up my duffel, and Charm followed me into the hallway toward the elevator.
The Spanish sentence waited on her phone.
Volveré en tres días y pienso follarte hasta que no puedas caminar.
She still didn’t know what it meant.
That was probably for the best until I was safely on the bus.
The elevator opened into the lobby, where the Frost were already gathering near the doors. Cade, Briggs, Rider, and Easton had apparently decided to enjoy the show because all four looked directly at Charm when we stepped out.
I ignored them.
Charm didn’t.
For one second, I felt her tense beside me.
Then her fingers found mine.
She held on.
I looked down at our hands and smiled.
For tonight, that was enough.
At the bus door, I turned toward her. “Drive safe.”
“I will.”
“Text me when you stop.”
“I will.”
“Eat something too.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Ryan.”
I kissed her forehead, then her mouth, and once more because I didn’t give a fuck who was watching.
When I stepped onto the bus, Charm stood on the sidewalk with her phone in one hand and a smile she was trying to hide.
I took my seat near the window and watched her unlock the screen. Her eyes moved across the Spanish before she looked up at the bus.
Even through the glass, I saw the exact second she decided she would translate it before leaving the parking lot.
I smiled and leaned back against the seat.
Three days.
For the first time all week, that didn’t feel very long.