Page 120 of One Foggy Christmas
Nash lifts his arm, scratching the back of his head, and a Christmas chorus goes off in my mind, celebrating his triceps and lats. This man is just doing it for me right now on every level. Like, get a grip, Sadie.
He drops his arm, glancing at me. “Do you really think it’s a good idea for us to spend so much time together? I mean, I want to,” he sighs, “but we’re not together anymore, and spending time just complicates things, you know?”
I want to scoop him in my arms and reassure him that my feelings are a sure thing he won’t lose again, but even I don’t know that for certain.
“Yes, hanging out complicates things. But when I saw you on that train yesterday, something came alive inside me. I can’t explain it; I just know it’s different from before. Different than last year.”
“And what happens if you wake up tomorrow or the next day and decide you’re not feeling it anymore? Do we just continue on our separate waysagain?”
“Nash, I know that you’ve gotten the short end of the stick on all of this, and now I’m asking you to risk your heart again when I can’t guarantee everything will work out. But what if it does?”
His lips lift into a solemn smile. “I thought the same thing yesterday. What if it does work out this time?”
“We’d regret it the rest of our lives if we didn’t try.”
He nods, really thinking it over.
“We can take things slow,” I offer.
“Slow?”
“Yeah, just, like, date each other and see what happens.”
“See what happens?”
I scrunch my nose at him. “Why are you repeating everything I say?”
“I’m just trying to wrap my head around all this.”
“I don’t know why you’re so reluctant.” I shoot him a charming smile. “Aside from the memory loss and the fact that I shattered your heart once before, I’m the whole package.”
His head tilts, and his amused gaze travels over me. “I know you’re the whole package. I’vealwaysknown that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, I’ve never stopped loving you. I can’t just take things slow, casually see where things lead.”
He steps to me, fingers combing through my hair as his hand grabs the side of my face.
Oh, the hand grab. I’ve missed that so much.
There’s a desperation behind the action that equally melts me while driving me mad with desire. My breathing halts—there’s nothing left in my chest besides my pounding heart. His green eyes tunnel through me to my soul.
“Sadie, you’reitfor me. If you open this door, I’m all in. There’s no way I can’t be.”
I place my hands on his hips, feeling the warmth of his smooth skin. He shudders under my touch, just as affected as me.
My chin lifts. “Then be all in.”
“And if you’re not?”
“Give me a chance, Nash. Let my heart and my feelings catch up to yours.”
The gap might not be as broad as he thinks.
His eyes slowly drift across my face, stopping on my lips. I hold his waist tighter, thinking he might kiss me, hoping for it.
“Fine, we’ll take things slow.” He steps back, dropping his hand from my cheek.
