Page 213 of The Fine Line
She waves me off with a lazy smile. “I’m fine,” she mumbles. “Just… gravity. Gravity’s the problem.”
I bite back a laugh, steering her toward my room so I can grab her a T-shirt and a spare toothbrush from the bathroom. When I turn around from the dresser, she’s already toeing off her heels, grumbling to herself as she drops down onto the edge of my bed.
“Here,” I say gently, handing her the toothbrush. “And I brought you this to change into.” I hold up the Storm T-shirt.
Her eyes light up. “Oh my God,” she slurs softly, dragging the soft cotton through her fingers. “This is so comfortable.”
I smile despite myself. “I’m glad you approve.”
I head into the kitchen for a minute so she can change in privacy, and when I walk back in the room, her hair is static and wild from yanking the T-shirt over her head.
“What’s the thread count on these sheets?” she asks, falling back dramatically into the pillows.
“A lot,” I say, grabbing the comforter and pulling it over her. “Don’t worry, they’re clean.”
I smooth the hair from her face, my fingers brushing her flushed cheek. “You okay?” I murmur.
She nods, blinking up at me. Her voice is soft, small. “Can you stay until I fall asleep?”
I don’t hesitate. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her lashes flutter. “Rhett?”
“Yeah, Cub?”
“Have you ever thought about kissing me?”
I huff a soft laugh, sitting beside her on the edge of the mattress. “Only every day for the last three years.”
Her brows lift. “Why haven’t you tried?”
“Because,” I say carefully, dragging a hand through my hair, “you’ve never let me get close enough. And if I ever get that from you—I’m gonna earn it. I’ve waited too long to screw it up by taking advantage when you’re not sober enough to even remember it happened. If I ever get to kiss you, I’m gonna know when you kiss me back, you mean it.”
Her eyes search mine. “You’re sweet.”
I smile faintly. “You’re so drunk.”
She laughs, the sound soft and sleepy, then whispers, “Tell me a secret.”
I blink down at her. “A secret?”
“Yeah. Something deep and dark. What keeps you up at night?”
I exhale, sinking down to my elbow next to her. “You really wanna know?”
She grins. “No, I was just kidding.”
Her eyes glitter playfully as she side-eyes me. “Of course I want to know. Duh. That’s why I asked.”
I chuckle. “Still a smartass when you’re inebriated, I see.”
“Tell me,” she presses, voice softening. “What are you most afraid of? Besides me.”
I glance down, my thumb absently tracing the stitching on the comforter.
“That one day I’ll get everything I’ve ever wanted,” I murmur, “and I’ll find a way to ruin it. That I’ll be left with nothing.”
The words come out quieter than I mean them to.
