“What about the kid’s room upstairs?”
A sharp breath escapes him, and I can tell this is the one thing he doesn’t want to discuss.
“Listen, Winter… I want to tell you. I really do. But I can’t.”
Like I just got hit by a huge wave of déjà vu, I start pulling away from him. Even after all of this, he won’t completely open up. He notices my body language and tightens his hold on me.
“Ask me anything. Anything but this. Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you, I promise but… I’m going to need more time for this one, okay?”
The agony in his gaze makes it clear that he’s had enough for one night. He’s in too much of a painful place as it is.
“How bad is it?”
I can’t believe there’s more. It can’t possibly be worse than what he’s just told me. How many times does a person have to go through hell before the Universe leaves them alone?
“It’s bad,” he whispers.
“Don’t you trust me?”
He seems to be pained by my question.
“Baby, that’s not what this is. Of course I trust you. I trust you more than anyone, but you have to understand, everybody I’ve ever gotten close t
o ends up leaving or getting hurt. No matter what I do, I lose them one way or another. It’s like I’m cursed. Every time I open up or I’m even the slightest bit happy, shit comes pouring down on me and everything goes to hell. I just need a little more time. Can you do that for me?” He gives me the puppy eyes.
Maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe I should tell him that keeping some stories for later wasn’t part of the deal. But I can’t. He’s trying to meet me halfway. He’s doing what he’s never done before… for me.
What kind of person would I be if I forced the truth out of him when he’s begging me not to?
“Okay.”
His shoulders loosen up.
“I think that’s why I backed out like a scared little bitch yesterday. I was scared that if you became my girlfriend…” His fingers run up and down my arm, making me shiver. “I’d lose you, too.”
“Well, too bad.” I press my forehead to his. “Because I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”
“Does that mean that you’ll give this dumbass another chance?” He gives me the puppy eyes.
“Maybe.” I smile.
“So… I have to ask, what does this mean? What are we?” he mocks me by repeating exactly what I said to him the night before.
I bring a hand to my chest and pretend to be offended.
“Why can’t we just be us? Why are you doing this right now?” I also use his own words against him.
Biting back a smirk, he leans forward and presses his warm lips to my neck, leaving a trail of kisses from my collarbone to my jaw. I shiver in places I didn’t even know I could, my body responding to him in the way it always does.
That’s when he says it.
“Because I love you, Winter Kingston.”
I almost can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“I’m sorry, what was that? I didn’t hear you.”
He laughs. “Aren’t you a funny gal?”