Page 51 of Glad You Exist

I grimace. I must stink bad if she broke that kiss. Because, fuck, that kiss was phenomenal.

She puts a finger between my brows, smoothing the creases.

"You smell fine, I promise. But it's just that it's really late and I still want to give you my birthday present."

I grin down at her, "You mean the cake wasn't my gift?"

She snorts this time in annoyance, "Give me more credit than that Bradley. You'll devour that thing in a minute. I got you something better than that."

I tap her bottom lip. “How could you possibly give me anything better?”

Smooth.

She looks away, a light blush staining her cheeks.

"Please for the love of God, shower and put a damned shirt on."

I sport a permanent grin on my face now.

Chuckling, I let her go to stride over to my dresser and grab clothes before heading into my bathroom to do what I'm told.

After the fastestshower I have ever had in my life, I walk back into my bedroom only to find Liz curled up on the edge of my bed, sound asleep.

She’s one roll away from falling off, her tiny feet sticking out.

Like she’s afraid to venture past that side.

Given that we spent a good twenty minutes making out, she’s right to be cautious.

Luckily, I took a cold shower, and it woke me up. There’s still a lot we need to talk about. I still haven’t told her the extent of my feelings.

She needs to know that just as much as I need to hear where she’s at.

Her mom just died. She still needs time to process that and grieve.

And I know things are a little rocky for her at home with her brother and Dad not getting along. Not to mention the trauma she experienced tonight.

I grit my teeth, feeling the anger rise in me again. I force myself to unclench and lower myself down to the floor to take a moment and just look at her.

I brush strands off her face, warmth ballooning in my chest at just how much she means to me. I’m not about to pressure her into more than she’s ready for, but I’m not going to shy away or pretend anymore either.

Not after that kiss.

Especially becauseshe kissed me back.

I’m going to lay it all out for her. Let her know I am willing to wait for her but that I want to be the one holding her hand—and hopefully kissing her—through all of this.

I rise, about to take her in my arms and carry her to her room when her eyelids flutter open. She gives me a sleepy smile and points to the corner of my room.

“Can you do me a favor and look in your closet?”

She yawns, rubbing her eyes as she moves to sit up motioning for me to go.

Seeing as how she’s seconds away from falling asleep again, I move quick.

I stalk past my desk, tv and gym equipment and fling open the door.

I switch the light on.

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