Page 40 of The Cost of Love

“You’re a bad influence,” she says.

“Nope. I said drinks. I didn’t say drunks.”

She laughs and turns to bury her head against my chest. I hold her tighter. “I never drink. I’ve been wasted, like, once.” She holds up one finger that she can’t keep straight. Chasing it with my mouth, I try to kiss it.

“I have work in like three hours,” she says dejectedly.

“Seriously?”

“Mhm.”

“What are you going to do?”

She is still smiling despite this news. “I’m going to try and sober up. We should get kebab!” She jumps up and down, pulling me down the street.

With no idea where she is going, I follow her. After a couple of blocks, she stops walking and starts pointing around, lost. Then, turning in a circle, she puts a hand to her forehead.

“Come home with me, sleep, and call off work.” I kiss the top of her head. She scoffs and steps away.

“First off, I said I’m not going back to your place, and second, I have to go to work.”

“What if I promise to keep you company until you have to go in? Sex-free company?”

She lifts an eyebrow.

“I have a terrace. We can watch the sunrise.”

“Sounds romantic.” Sucking her teeth, she crosses her arms.

“It is, but I promise to try and make it as awkward as possible so you don’t think it’s sweet.”

This gets her giggling again as she links her arm with mine.

With that, we head back to meet up with my car.

Chapter 16

Chanice

Despite his promise, sitting under the moon on his roof deck with water and the kebabs I wanted, I feel like I’m in a movie. It’s super romantic.

Looking at him with his undone shirt, stubbled jaw, and perfectly tousled hair tells me he should be the male lead in the story.

I’m trying so hard not to let him sweep me off my feet, but sitting here on my butt, I’m already halfway there.

“You failed. This is sweet,” I mumble.

“I don’t know what you want me to do about that,” he says, pulling me into his side.

The trace of orange is starting to push against the navy. A new beginning is breaking past an ending, while we are at the precipice of something as well. Only I’m fighting to keep my sky dark.

“Well, do something funny or stupid,” I huff, still trying to resist.

He chuckles and lifts me until I’m in between his legs with my back against his chest. Promptly doing the opposite of what I want.

“You don’t want me to seduce you, and now you don’t want me to charm you. Tell me what it is that you do want, Chanice.”

That’s the problem. I thought I knew, but each day with him challenges it. At first, I just wanted sex, but now I might want him in all capacities. This is my life with only pieces of his affection. To have the full package would be intoxicating. Maybe that is why I gave in to spending this night with him while knowing there would be no sex at the end. My gut said it would be worth it.