Page 107 of Power Play

“More than almost anything.”

I nodded while his hand stayed warm against my neck.

“That scares you?”

“The change does.”

The answer felt safer, but it was also true. Change had always made my brain louder. A different schedule, a shifted appointment, or someone arriving later than expected could make me spend the entire day feeling like I had missed something.

Ryan had quietly become part of my routine through morning texts, coffee, Professor Brown, the Book Nook, his apartment, my apartment, Spanish in the truck, and his name appearing on my phone before I realized I was waiting for it.

“How bad?” he asked.

I shrugged.

“You’re not allowed to answer an emotional question with your shoulders.”

“I didn’t know that was a rule.”

“It is now.”

I sighed. “I don’t like not knowing what something is going to look like.”

“Flint?”

“Us.”

The word landed before I could stop it.

Ryan went still, and heat climbed my neck as I looked toward my coffee.

“Forget I said that.”

“No.”

“Ryan.”

“You finally said something real, and now you want me to pretend I missed it.”

“It sounded more dramatic than I meant.”

“It sounded like a question.”

“I don’t know what the question is.”

“That I believe.”

His thumb brushed the side of my neck. “We’re seeing what happens.”

“I know.”

“That still okay with you?”

“Yes.”

The answer came immediately, and Ryan’s eyes sharpened.

“Good.”