Page 91 of Houston, We Have a Problem
Saying that out loud feels like handing over a backpack full of bricks, something I’ve been carrying for so long without even knowing how heavy it has become. Connor knows how much I help my family and probably fought to get me in the running for the promotion, but there’s only so much he can do when it comes to the emotional side of carrying that burden. Yes, I love laughing with Houston and talking sports, and I absolutely enjoy kissing him. But this? Unloading a weight from my shoulders is something I’ve never experienced before.
“I don’t know why I told you that,” I whisper, pulling myself tighter into his hold.
Houston matches my movement, wrapping me up more securely. “Because that’s what boyfriends are for, I think.”
My heart does a sort of fish-flopping motion in my chest. “Are you my boyfriend?”
“I hope so. I did just tell you I love you, and that was kind of my end goal. At least for now, until I’m ready to ask for more.”
Holy promises, Batman.What is he saying?
This has been the longest hug of my life, and I don’t want it to end. So I burrow in deeper, and Houston chuckles.
“I’m freaking you out, aren’t I?” he says. “Don’t worry. I’m freaking myself out too. This is so far beyond what I’m used to. I didn’t really sleep last night, so it could be exhaustion talking, but it gave me a lot of time to think. I’m never going to find anyone more perfect for me than you, and I don’t want to let you go.”
This can’t be real. This is all just some weird fever dream from sleeping on the couch as a twenty-six-year-old.
“And there was also all that thinking time while I was driving back this morning. Apparently the radio is broken in my truck, and two hours is a long time to—”
“Two hours?” I pull away, staring at him. “Where did you go?”
He blinks, turning slightly red. “Uh. Diamond Springs.”
“Colorado? Why?”
“I needed advice.”
“You ran away?”
“I was panicking!”
I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Kissing me made you panic?”
“When I thought you were two different people, yeah. But the more I thought about Tamlin’s kiss…”
It’s my turn to blush, and I bury myself back in his arms even though it makes him laugh. “I’m a little mortified when I think about how bad I was at separating my feelings for you from who I was supposed to be at the time. Have I said sorry yet for lying to you?”
“Just promise me you won’t lie to me in the future, and we’ll be good.”
That’s more than fair, though now I’m thinking about the future. And thinking about the future reminds me about my story, which reminds me about him not throwing at practice, which reminds me I have very little time left to find the story that will get me promoted, which has me thinking about what happens if Idoget promoted because Houston is here in Sun City and my job is in Missouri, and—
“Okay, what’s happening right now?” Houston asks, pushing me to arm’s length and studying me with so much intention that I can practically feel his eyes on my face. “I feel like you’re overthinking something.”
I bite the insides of my lips. I’m overthinking, but what if telling him what I’m thinking about spooks him? He may say he’s in this for the long haul, but those are just words. I haven’t given him many reasons to stick around.
Swallowing, I take one of his hands from my shoulder and lace my fingers with his, hoping the contact helps him know that I’m not out to get him. “You know that mystery story I told you about?”
He nods. “The one that will get you promoted. Did you figure it out?”
I don’t like this any more than he’s going to. “You tell me,” I say and press my palm against his left shoulder.
I can see each emotion as it crosses his face in rapid succession. Fear first in his wide eyes, followed by anger in the clenching of his jaw. His lips purse at the same time hiseyebrows dip down, both speaking volumes to the uncertainty he must be feeling.
Right as he opens his mouth, I touch my fingers to his lips. “Don’t say anything you don’t want me to put in a story. I got sent here because of you, and the last thing I want to do is ruin what game time you have left. I can find another way to help my family, and this won’t be my only chance to tell the stories I want to tell, so don’t you dare think about me when you decide what to tell me, if anything at all. Understand?”
His eyes have grown heavy while I speak, and though he nods against my fingers, he keeps his mouth shut. I might be disappointed by that, but if he thinks it’s better not to tell me anything, I’ll trust him. With the way he responded to learning my secret, I’ll trust him with just about anything.
“I should clean up those waffles,” I say, wanting to give myself a moment to think about what I’m going to do next. “Or maybe eat them off the floor because they’re so good. I think—”
