Page 33 of The Sweetest Chirp

“A hotel?”

“Yeah,” I say, assembling a box. “I figured we’d see the doctor tomorrow, then I’ll ask for everyone to meet us at my parents’, and we’ll show up.” She chews on her lip, and I can’t bring myself to look away. She’s visibly nervous at what I’ve said. “Figured get Arwen squared away before we bring Babas and Dedes into the mix.”

She nods slowly. I wish I could wrap my arms around her, feeling her sweet curves against me. She doesn’t speak, only continues to load her desk, and when I notice her hands start to shake, I can’t resist any longer. I close the distance between us, hovering over her but resisting touching her. I just need to be in her space; I need to smell her rosemary and mint scent. It’s as intoxicating as she is, and my eyes drift shut as I inhale her.

I feel her tense before she looks over her shoulder at me. Her eyes widen at how close I am, and she can fake the fact that shedidn’t know I was this close all she wants. I know she did, and she didn’t stop me.

That’s a win for me.

She licks her trembling bottom lip. “Why are you smelling me?”

“Because I love how you smell.”

“I’ll buy you the shampoo,” she says before turning back to the task at hand. “Go pack something and not try to smell me, weirdo.”

She doesn’t realize how badly I want her. I reach out, pressing my hand into the middle of her back. She tenses up once more, but that doesn’t stop me from running my fingers along her spine in a soothing manner. “Are you okay?”

Her brows draw in tight, her mouth pressing together. “I’m doing great,” she says sarcastically. “My baby daddy shows up, and now I’m going back home to a place I’ve hidden from for more than three years. Things are peachy.”

I swallow hard, taking it as a win that she still hasn’t pulled away. “Aren’t you excited to see your parents? Mine?”

She stops packing and turns with an incredulous look on her face. I drop my hand to my side as she leans into the desk, looking up at me while putting space between us. Her hazel eyes are clouded with tears. “I’m terrified, Thatcher. They’re going to be so mad.”

It surprises me that she’d feel that way. “Mad? I don’t think so. Maybe annoyed that you’ve had no contact, but I think the relief of having you back will cancel out everything else.”

At least, that’s how it was for me. But then my eyes met a pair of doe-eyed brown ones, and my world was tossed off its axis once more. Then I felt every emotion on the planet, but relief is still the biggest one.

I’m so glad I have Audrina back, in whatever capacity she’ll allow. When I’m near, I know she is safe. Adding Arwen to the mix only drives me to protect them even more.

Audrina isn’t convinced, shaking her head. “And then they’ll be pissed I had a kid and didn’t tell them. I’m so worried it’ll start a war between our families. Our parents taking our sides and fighting against one another. They’ve never not been on common ground, but this could be the time. All while leaving Arwen in the middle.”

She looks at her hands, picking at her nails as her shoulders shake with sobs. I reach out, cupping her hands in mine. She looks up, her jaw slack as her watery gaze reluctantly meets mine. “I won’t let that happen.”

“What?” she asks, her voice soft and airy.

“Arwen will be nowhere but at the top, she will be loved by our families, and I’ll take the blame.”

Her face scrunches up. “But I’m at fault too.”

“I know,” I say, holding her gaze. “But that’s between you and me. We will work on that. It’s not for our parents.”

“You know them—they’re always in our business.”

I shrug. “Sure, but that’s because we let them before. That’s not the case anymore. We have to do what’s best for us, and we have enough problems and trauma between the two of us to add in everyone else.”

A flush fills her face. “You’re using the wordusfor a situation that doesn’t include that concept.”

My lips kick up at the side as my eyes hood a bit, her hazel eyes leaving me breathless. I want to close the distance between us. I want to smother her mouth with mine. Instead, much to my dismay, I squeeze her hands and say, “Dushen’ka, there will always be an us.”

She’s stunned for about two seconds, which is what I wanted. If I were a brave man, I would have kissed her, but she’ll resist.I know she will. I’d rather she beg for my kisses, beg for me, and she will.

It won’t take twentysomething years. Instead, it’ll take weeks, maybe months, but I’ve got all the time in the world. Like I said to Eli, there is no one but her for me, and I’ll stand on that hill until my dying day.

She’s apparently nowhere near my hill, though. Her face is red as she shakes her head. “No, Thatcher, there won’t. Not anymore.”

I squeeze her hands again, this time a bit more firmly. “Never say never,dushen’ka.”

Her eyes widen, frustration swirling in her hazel depths. “Don’t call me that.”

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