Page 118 of The Promise Of You

I want it to be hers.

Ours.

Any other time, I would have pulled Chris into my pub. Not upstairs to my apartment. Upstairs feels like home, now that Chloe is here.

A quick smile runs over Chris as he answers, “Black. Thanks.”

Chloe starts the espresso machine and takes the croissants Chris is handing her.

“Samuel is stealing from Chloe. I’m going to nail him,” I inform Chris.

Chloe freezes, the bag of croissants hovering over the plate she just pulled out of the cupboard.

“It’s okay, babe. He won’t say a thing.”

She blinks a couple of times and gets us cups. “We should sit on the rooftop. It’s gorgeous out there. Why don’t you guys bring some chairs out while I get us coffee.”

The rooftop is really just that. A flat roof. You can stand on it. Because of that, the previous owner installed sliding doors to access it straight from the apartment and a kickass wrought-iron banister all around it.

I never did anything with it.

Chris winks at me. “Happy for you, man,” he says while we bring chairs outside and Chloe is still fussing over the espresso machine.

I don’t answer.

He chuckles.

“What?”

“Nothin’. Fun to see you get a little whipped up.”

“I’m not…” Yeah maybe I am. And fuck it—I like it.

“Don’t ruin it with some stupid shit like I did.”

“What’d you mean?”

“Don’t make assumptions. Talk to her. Women need to talk shit out.”

I raise my eyebrows, uncertain what he means.

“Verbalize.”

Still unclear. I think I’m doing a pretty good job at expressing what I want with Chloe. Right?

“Look at the view from here.” Chloe exclaims once she joins us, pointing to the mist over the lake, the mountains a dreamy gray in the back, the rising sun tinting the air pink. She lets out a big sigh. “We should make something of this outdoor space.”

And fuck. The way she says it nearly undoes me. It makes me feel weak and strong at the same time.

Chris downs his espresso. “I’d take that silence as a yes,” he tells Chloe.

She giggles softly, eyes me, and takes a bite of her croissant. Then she moans.

I shift in my seat.

Shit.

Chris’s shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Alex is probably done with her call,” he says as a goodbye.

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