Page 74 of Not A Chance

I leaned into her hands and brought my forehead down to hers. Her eyes closed with my movements. Good, maybe it would be easier for her to hear me if she didn’t have to make eye contact.

“Come home with me. As my girlfriend. I don’t want to go back without you. It’s our first Christmas together.” This time, my words whispered in the intimate cocoon of the short distance of my lips to hers.

“I don’t understand why you are doing this.” Her words were barely more than a whoosh of air, nearly inaudible. But to my ears, they roared louder than the crowds that filled the arena on game nights.

If she reached inside me, gripped my heart with both her hands, and squeezed with all her strength, she wouldn’t have been able to match the crushing pressure in my chest at her question.

Fuck. What was it about her that could tear me apart so easily? How had I never seen how tender her insides were?

I needed a minute to compose myself so I wouldn’t go off in a rage at the two completely useless, selfish fuckheads of flesh that she had to call her parents.

I kissed her forehead instead and let the anger at her history that I couldn’t change simmer down.

“Can you look at me, Rocky?” Despite the sadness for her childhood self, whose wound was still raw inside her, my nickname for her could still bring a curve to one side of her lips.

We parted only enough to be able to see each other clearly. I let go of the counter and cupped her chin with my hands so that she wouldn’t look away.

“This—us—is happening, baby. That means where I go, I want you with me whenever that is possible. You know what Christmas is like at my house. It’s Emery’s favorite. She goes all out every year because it’s the only time she can get us all in the same room at once. It’s the only time where we talk about Mom, and it’s like she’s…” My voice was caught in my throat with the sudden emotion. “There with us. And if you are really going to try this with me, as my girlfriend, then of course I want you there.”

“You’re lethal, Theo. Who could say no to that?” Her smile wobbled slightly, like her instincts wanted to hold her back from really feeling that she was wanted.

“Hopefully not you, Ind.” My gaze didn’t falter. I hoped she could see in my eyes that I was telling her the truth.

“Okay, but…” she started, and I groaned. Indie gave my pec a little pinch.

“Ouch! What’s that for?” That shit smarted.

She rubbed the spot where she had just assaulted and looked into my eyes. “It’s not my fault you can’t listen.”

“I can’t listen! Oh,that’srich, baby…” I chuckled.

“Theo.” She brought out the don’t-fuck-with-me tone she’d used on the reporter, so I wisely shut up. “Emery doesn’t know, remember? Do you recall that we agreed that I could be the one to tell her?” Indie cocked her head to the side slightly with her questions.

“Yeah, of course I do. You can. What’s the problem? Just tell her.” She’d need to spell it out for me. “You know what? Hold that thought. Let’s sit down first.”

I was done talking in the dim kitchen against a cold granite counter. I wanted my arms around her for whatever she was about to say. I’d remind her how good we felt physically together to make sure she felt how wanted she was if she was going to try to put me off.

I led her to the couch and pulled her down into my lap before she could sit on the opposite side of Giz, who was still snoring quietly in her fluffy little bed.

“Much better. I’m sorry for interrupting. What did you want to say?” I kissed her cheek and leaned back to meet her gaze again.

I knew this little maneuver was working wonderfully when the tension smoothed out of her features and her eyes softened with affection.

“What I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted—” She paused, giving me a look of playful admonishment. I widened my eyes in what I hoped resembled a look of innocence. “It’s not simple just to tell Emery out of nowhere.” She sighed.

I waited for her to continue, letting her put into words whatever it was that she wanted me to understand.

“My friendships with Emery and Abbie are literally all I have, Theo. Those two women are the only people I would go to war to protect.” She brought one hand up to my cheek. “Until now.”

I sucked in a breath at the implication of her statement. I mean, I had heard her tear that reporter a new asshole weeks ago, butshe didn’t know that. This was the first time she’d ever let me see a glimpse of the depth of her feelings. I wanted to tell her I’d heard her that day, but now wasn’t the time.

Somewhat stunned, I could only nod in response.

“I know there’s been stuff going on with Emery and your brothers. And I don’t know what things are like with you and your dad. I’m not asking you to talk about it. But if you needed any of them, they would be there for you in a second. I don’t have a family like that. On the other hand, I stay as fucking far away from my parents and their world as I can. So if I fuck up, it’s on me.Ihandle my own shit.”

She started smoothing my hair back from my forehead absently, lost in thought.

“You’re right. My family are good people… But do you really think that Emery is going to mind that we’re dating?” I watched her closely, keen to see any signs she was hiding anything.

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