“Understandable.”I loop my arm around her shoulders, pulling her body into mine.“You know she's got yourback.”Ileandown and press a kisstoher temple.“And I do, too.”
“God, I don't feel like I can ever repay you for everything you've donefor me... Everything you'restilldoing.”She averts hereyesas her darkirisesgo glassy.
But Idon’tlet her retreat,skimming my fingers down her jaw to her chin,I direct her gaze back up to mine.“Good thing repayment's not on the table, huh?”
“I guess.” She shrugs. “How did we even get here?”
“What do you mean?”I tug her into my lap,and sheimmediatelycurls into me, resting her cheek on my shoulder.
She loops her arms around my neck, her fingers finding the hair at my nape. “I don’t know. It’s just... everything’s changed, and I’m having a hard time with it all.”
“There’sa lot going on in your life, Scar. No one expects you to haveall ofthe answers, least of all me.”
“No, forget all of that.” She keeps on playing with my hair—though I’m not sure if she’s trying to distract me or herself. “I’m confused about... us.”
“Us?”
“Is there even an us?” she asks, her voice small.
Iroll her question around in my head, clearing my throat to buymyselfa littletime.“Do you want there to be?”
She shrugs. “I mean, I like this thing we’re doing. But I don’t know how serious it is or?—”
“You pretty much live with me, Scarlet.”
“Temporarily.” Her protest is weak, and we both know it.
“You sleep in my bed every night. And sure, ithasn’tbeen all that long, but I...”Isuckin a deep breath wondering ifI’mreally aboutto drop thisparticular truthbomb on her right now.After a minute or two ofdeliberating, Idecideto go for it. Fuckknows keeping it to myself for so long certainlydidn’tdo my any favors.“I wanted you long before I hated you.”
She gasps. “You wanted me?”
I nod.“The night we first met you, I was so fucking into you. Then you chose Atlas.”
“I did not!”shepractically shrieks.“It wasyouI was interested in. I was asking him about you when you walked in with a whole new personality.”
“Well, damn, Princess.”
“Damn is right.”She nuzzles into the crook of my neck.“You really hated me?”
“No.” I wrap my arms around her. “Not really. More like hated you were always around when I couldn’t have you.”
“Well, shit.” She snorts out a laugh. “Talk about time wasted.”
“Nah, everything’s working out the way it’s meant to.”
“Hmm.” She sits up straight. “You think so?”
“I hope so.”Ipress her hips forward, silently urging her to stand.“Only time will tell.”
“Enough sappy shit.”She pops to her feet.“We’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”
“In a rush to face Atlas?” I’m mostly joking, but damn if tonight hasn’t already been an emotional roller coaster.
“In a rush to getit over with. And excited for some steak.”
“Amen to that. Let’s roll, Princess.”
“Wanna take my car or yours?”Scarlet asks, and then her face crumples. “Ha. Never mind.”