Page 69 of Unstoppable You

“You can. If you want. I just wanted you to know that I’m here. And if you want to go back to being friends and never talk about today again, that’s okay.” I wouldn’t forget about it, but I wouldn’t bring it up unless she wanted to. Above all else, I didn’t want her to have any regrets about today.

She studied my face and nodded again. “Thanks. I’m not ready to…anyway.” She threw the paper towel she’d used to dry her hands in my trash can. “I should probably get home.”

Fuck, I didn’t want her to leave. A brief image of handcuffing her to my bed danced through my mind. I’d only do that if she asked.

Delaney had never given me any indication that she might be a little kinky, and I wasn’t going to ask. Not unless she brought it up. But if she wanted to discuss it, I’d be more than happy to.

“I’m not kicking you out. Hell, you can stay as long as you want.” It was a serious offer.

Delaney rolled her eyes. “No, I need to go home. I skipped out on going to my parents and I also had a million things to do when I got home from seeing them.” I needed to do a bunch of cleaning that I’d put off so I could get naked with her. No regrets. I could do chores anytime.

“Got it. Well.” She gathered up her clothes and I gave her one of my reusable grocery bags to take them home with her.

“I’ll wash this and give it back to you,” she said, plucking at the hem of the shirt she wore.

“Keep it,” I told her. She could have it. I loved the idea of her wearing my clothes. Why was that such a turn-on?

“I’ll bring it back,” she said, stepping closer to me. Was our time over now? Would I ever get to kiss her again? Was today the only time like this I’d have with her?

I was doing my best not to panic about that. I’d gotten the tiniest taste of her and all I wanted was more.

“One more kiss,” she whispered, as if to herself. She popped up on her toes and joined her mouth with mine, immediately kissing me deeply. She wasn’t shy about it at all. As if she wanted to make this last one a good one. The best one. My tongue twisted with hers in a bittersweet way and I knew that something between us had ended when she finally pulled away.

I couldn’t cry. I wasn’t going to let her see me cry. Not until after she left.

“Let me know when you get home safe,” I told her. “And…just don’t ghost me. Please. Even if it’s just to reach out and tell me that you need time.”

I couldn’t bear it if she stopped talking to me altogether. Not when I’d finally gotten her back in my life.

Delaney gazed into my eyes and I thought she might kiss me again.

“I’ll see you…when I see you?” she said and walked to the door.

Fuck. Letting her go was awful. I hated it.

“See you, baby.” I had to get it in one more time.

Her smile was soft as she opened my door and left. The sound of it shutting behind her was a sound of finality.

Shit.

* * *

She sentme a message only a few minutes later that she’d gotten home.

I’m ordering my new couch right now. Do you think you could come over and help me put it together when it gets here?

I shouldn’t have been as excited as I was to get that message. Hell yes I could help her with her couch.

Sure. I put mine together so I know all the tricks.

She was still talking to me.

Thanks.

I tried not to stay glued to my phone the rest of the night, so I cleaned up the house and did laundry and dishes. Part of me didn’t want to wash the blankets that we’d messed up together, but it would have been gross not to.

I got a message and I ran for my phone, hoping it was from Delaney.

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