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“What’s going on, princess?” The fact that she’s still not looking at me is breaking down whatever confidence I had waking up this morning.
After we fell back asleep, I half expected to wake up to an empty bed again, but my arms were still wrapped tightly around her waist.
“Last night,” she whispers. “I’m?—”
“Please don’t tell me it was a mistake.” I can’t let her retract it—not again. I clasp her chin between my fingers and lift her face, staring down at her with intensity. “I don’t think I could handle you flipping saying it was.”
A soft smile twitches on her lips, and then a light laugh leaves her mouth. My heart warms at the sound.
“What?”
“Oh, I just think it’s cute that you don’t swear.”
That brings a smile back to my own lips, but then she shifts back to holding back. Something is dragging her back down.
“What’s going on in your head, princess?”
“Too much.”
“Want to unload on me, then?”
She breathes out a sigh, and I let go of her chin and back away. She frowns at my retraction, but I want her to have enough space to talk to me without being pressed against her.
“If you have questions, I’ll answer them.” There’s a moment of silence because she’s still scared that I don’t know what I’m getting into, and while I might not know everything, I know she’s the one I want to be here with.
“I’m sure I have lots of questions, but I don’t think that’s what you want to talk about.”
Another sigh, and then she looks back to the floor. Goddammit.
“I’m not sure I can give you what you want.”
“What do you think I want?” I lean back again on the kitchen island. Both my hands grip the edge of the counter.
“I’m leaving at the end of the summer.” She winces at the declaration. “I’ll be moving, and I don’t think I’ll come back.”
She looks up, and I nod her onward. Sure, the idea of her leaving hurts, but I already told myself this was a possibility. I prepared myself for this outcome, but I still thought of it as the worst-case scenario. That’s a lie, though. The worst case would be us stopping here and not even talking for the rest of the summer.
“Are you wanting to stop?” I deadpan, and her eyes shoot to me with worry. That looks like a no, which makes me happy.
“I don’t!” she says quickly.
“That’s good because I don’t want to stop either.” I grin at her surprise. She really thought I would want this to end. “I’ll follow your lead. If you want us to just be a summer fling, I’m okay with that.” I’m not, but having her even a little is better than nothing.
She thinks for a second before a half-hearted smile plays on her lips. “That’s what I want.”
“Good.” I peck her lips but pull away when she tries to deepen the kiss. “I got you something.”
“Oliver, you?—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence.” I reach into the pocket of my Jeans and pull out the bracelet with pink flower knots from the market. “I saw this the day we went to the market and got it right afterward because it reminded me of you.”
Her eyes glisten. “Can I put it on?” she asks hesitantly like she thinks I’ll rip it away from her.
I gently take her hand in mine and push the bracelet onto her wrist. A small tear falls from her eyes, and I quickly kiss it away. She throws her arms around my neck, and we kiss again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sally
