Page 74 of The Chances We Take

God, you’re so distracting.

I’d always thought his eyes were pretty, but up close? They were rich and warm, like the color of amber honey.

I realized how close we were when the warmth of his breath tickled my cheeks.

A shiver went down my spine, a jolt of electricity stopping all rational thoughts, and I brought my hand up to his face, cupping his jaw.

“Is—”

I pulled away, warmth creeping up my face. That was stupid. What was I thinking? “I’m sorry, that was dumb. I don’t know what that was, we’re just?—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Reid pulled me back to him, holding my face in his hands. “Don’t even finishthat sentence, okay? Listen, as much as I want to kiss you right now, you just went through something traumatic.”

“W-what? What do you mean you want to kiss me?” I stuttered.

“I’ve wanted to for a long time,” he whispered.

“But you called me…during Colter’s bachelor party…there was a girl.” My mind buzzed as I waited for answers.

His brows furrowed, but then recognition flashed across his face. “Oh, God. I accidentally called you. That girl? She has nothing on you. I turned her down before she even had a chance.” He grabbed my hands, gently squeezing them. “We’ve never been just friends, Isa. Not in my eyes. But I want the moment to be right, not when you’re vulnerable, okay, Honeybee?”

I blinked a few times, trying to process what he said. “O-okay.”

“Come on, let’s get you to bed.” He stood, pulling me up with him. He turned away as I changed into more comfortable clothes, and by the time I had taken my hair down, wiped my makeup off, and came out of the bathroom, he had pulled back the covers and was standing awkwardly in front of the TV.

“I should probably go back to my room,” he whispered as I walked by.

“Stay,” I said as I climbed under the covers. “Please.”

He hesitated before I beckoned him over, insisting.

“Are you sure?” he asked as he lay down next to me on top of the comforter.

“I’m sure. I don’t want to be alone tonight.” I turned my head toward him.

“Okay. I’ll stay.”

For a moment, we lay there in silence, but instead ofawkwardness hanging between us, the stillness was comforting.

“I’ve always been afraid no one could ever truly see me. Love me in a way that wasn’t familial or platonic. That, maybe, I was always meant to be alone,” I confessed, my voice barely a whisper.

“You’ll never be alone as long as you have me.” He brushed his lips against my forehead, and, as I rested my head on his chest, his heartbeat pounded in a way I’d never noticed before.

I wasn’t sure what it meant or what we were—we hadn’t even kissed—but I was starting to think I could really love Reid Lawson.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

reid

Ireached to the other side of the bed only to find it cold and empty. I sat up and blinked a few times, trying to wake myself up as I looked around. The room was still dark, the alarm clock reading seven thirty a.m., but there was no sign of Isa.

“Fuck. What did I do?” I groaned, throwing myself backward onto the pillow. I figured our conversation after what happened last night had cleared things up, but I guess she was just as worried as I still was about ruining the friendship we had.

I got up and was pulling on my dress shirt from last night, ready to go back to my own room to change out of formal clothes, when the hotel keypad clicked and the door opened. I snapped my head toward the entrance, ready to defend myself if needed. I relaxed when I realized it was just Isa.

She strolled in with two plates filled with food. “Good morning!”

“What are you doing?” I asked, confused about whyshe had two plates and why she didn’t just wake me up with her.

---