Page 51 of When the Fake Snow Falls

Who am I kidding? I want them all.

“But you didn’t even kiss me last night,” I say quietly as I try to click all the pieces into place.

He lets out a breath caught between a scoff and a laugh. “I didn’t think you wanted me to. I was all over you last night, and you barely gave me anything back. Which is fine. I know our deal is for the party.”

My teeth sink into my bottom lip. He’s right, of course. I know I didn’t give him much to work with. He was practicing, and I was . . . focusing on not letting it affect me.

Before I can say anything, he adds, “And I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stop. I knew one kiss wouldn’t be enough. If I kissed you, I would have kissed you all the way to your bed and had my way with you.”

I look at my bed with new eyes, imagining what could have happened in here last night if I had just been a little more—well,more.A heavy heat settles between my legs at the thought of him being here with me. I’ve slept with guys I’ve liked less than Chase, but maybe that’s the issue. I like him too much for this to be casual. On second thought, I’m already in this deep, so if I went a little deeper . . .

“If you wanted me to, of course.”

Blinking, I come back to reality. I was so distracted by the sheer thought of him, I’d left him hanging. My mouth has suddenly gone dry, and I swallow. “Of course.”

There’s a pause, like he’s waiting for more, and I know I should say something. This is the part where I tell him I feel the same. This is the part where I let my guard down. Hell, this could be the part where I have a little fun with him and hear his husky voice again.

Fuck.

My forehead falls forward into my palm, and I squeeze my eyes shut. I can do this. I can put myself out there for him. He might not want to date me, but he certainly wantssomething.I can be open to it, right? Maybe?

“I think I should hang up now,” he says, his voice a little sloppy, like he’s getting tired on top of being drunk. “I’ve beenmaking a mental tally of all the things I’ll need to apologize for tomorrow, and it’s getting up there.”

I let out a laugh, but it does little to ease the tension in my body. “You don’t need to apologize for anything.”

“You’re too good to me, Candace.” There’s a hint of a smile in his voice.

My heart races because there’s so much I want to say—so much I’m not sure Ishould.But ultimately, I shouldn’t say any of it while he’s drunk. Then we’d both have things to apologize for.

Letting out a sigh, I clench my fist around my blanket and say, “Goodnight, Chase.”

His voice is low as he says, “Goodnight, Candace.” Then he disconnects the call, and I ache to have him back on the line.

I think I did the right thing. He may not have meant half of what he said, but I can’t help feeling like I just missed the opportunity I’d been hoping for.

twenty-two

It’s halfwaythrough my workday when I finally get a text from Chase.

Chase:

Should I ask what your favorite type of flower is?

Or have you already blocked my number?

His message brings a smile to my lips, and my chest warms. I can’t remember the last time someone offered to buy me flowers. I’m waiting for one of my afternoon clients, but I have a few minutes to send him a quick response.

Candace:

I know how you feel about useless products, and there’s hardly anything more useless than store-bought flowers.

And there’s nothing to apologize for.

When I woke up this morning, I felt better about letting the call end last night when it did. It would have been a bad idea toconfess anything while he was drunk, and as tempting as it was to let that conversation run away with me, I’m glad we both called it a night.

Chase:

My tally says otherwise.

---