Page 38 of Stuffed

Instead, I pull her closer, letting her presence quiet the ghosts of who I used to be. Because sometimes the hardest walls to break are the ones we build ourselves.

And somehow, Tessa Marlow has crashed through every single one.

Later, as I watch her sleep in my bed, her hair spread across my pillow, it feels like I’m becoming someone else, someone new. As if letting her in is like finding parts of myself I forgot existed.

My phone buzzes with a text from Asher but I ignore it. Instead, I pull Tessa closer, breathing in her vanilla scent as she stirs awake against me.

"Still thinking too loud," she murmurs sleepily.

"Go back to sleep." I kiss her temple. "I've got you."

And as snow blankets the city, as night wraps around us like a cocoon, I start to believe that she’s got me too.

Chapter 11

Tessa

Ican't stop smiling as I walk into Sugar & Spice Monday morning. Snow is still falling outside, coating Chicago in a perfect winter wonderland, but inside I'm warm with memories of Saturday's walk with Zane. Of his hesitant vulnerability, his rough admission that he wants to try.

"Someone's in a good mood," Ivy notes, looking up from where she's arranging pastries in our newly installed display case. "Wouldn't have anything to do with a certain brooding billionaire, would it?"

"Maybe." I set my bag down, unable to contain my grin. "We might have spent Saturday afternoon walking along the lake."

"Walking?" She raises an eyebrow. "Just walking?"

"Yes, actually." I start sorting through the morning's mail. "And talking. Like, really talking."

"About?"

"About…" I pause, remembering how his hand felt in mine. How his walls seemed to lower, just a little. "About possibilities."

"Possibilities?" She abandons the pastries, coming to perch on my desk. "Do tell."

"He's trying, Ivy. Actually trying to open up. It's…" I trail off as my phone buzzes.

Zane

Morning. Still thinking about that walk.

My heart flutters as I type back.

Me

Just the walk? Not what came after?

Because yes, while we did actually walk and talk, what happened when he walked me to my door was… significantly less innocent.

Zane

Don't start something you can't finish, Miss Marlow. I have meetings all day.

"Earth to Tessa!" Ivy waves her hand in front of my face. "You're doing that dreamy smile thing again."

"Sorry!" I tuck my phone away. "What were we talking about?"

"We were talking about how you're clearly falling hard for him."

"I'm not—" I start to protest, then stop myself. "Okay, maybe I am. But he's different now, Ivy. He's letting me see the real him."

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