Page 64 of Sven

He knocked on the window, but she couldn’t hear him over the music. When he peered in and noticed she had an open bagsitting on the couch, he didn’t like that one bit. A little louder, he knocked on the door, but she still couldn’t hear him. Finally, he banged on the window, making her jump.

She came over to the door and slipped it open. “What do you want?”

“Can I come in?”

“It’s your house.”

She pulled open the door, turned back into the bedroom, and got out more clothes.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going back to Sydney’s,” she said as she dropped another armful of clothes into the open bag.

“Why?”

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“Look, I know I was out of line. I’m sorry about tonight.”

He waited for her to say something, but she just stared at him, chewing on her bottom lip.

“Are you leaving?”

The fight left her face, and she deflated. He almost wished her anger was back. He liked that better than this.

“I’m just not sure if living here is a good idea. I’ll still watch Winnie, but maybe we should go back to just staying here when you’re on road trips.”

“No,” Sven said, like it was going to make any difference. He crossed the room to her. His hands itched to reach out and hold her, but he didn’t.

“What do you mean no?”

“I don’t know, Natalie,” he said, dragging his hand through his hair. “I don’t like that. I think it works better when you live here.”

Sven meant that. It was definitely easier with her here, and he knew that wasn’t the only reason.

She put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Okay . . . AND I like having you here.”

He plopped down on the couch and put his head in his hands, then blew out a breath. “I know I was out of line tonight. I just don’t like the thought of you with Murphy.”

“I’m not with him. And I wouldn’t be after tonight. You made sure of that.”

Sven stood to protest, but Natalie held her hands up. “But there would still be nothing. I was just going to meet some new people. I really like Alice.”

Sven relaxed back onto the couch.

“I get it. I’m still sorry. I’m not used to all of this. I’m not used to... I don’t know... caring so much.”

And once he said it, he knew that was only part of it. He wasn’t used to caring about someone the way he cared about her, but it was more than that. He had real feelings for her, and maybe it was time they talked about it.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re so good with Winnie.”

Hand on her hips, she stood there with her head cocked to the side. Her expression had him second guessing all his life choices.

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