Page 32 of Whispered Promises

I want all of her.

Her eyes widen slightly, and she looks down at our hands, then glances back up at me. Not wanting to give her the chance to question it, I turn back to the others and tune into their conversation.

“It will be nice to have a couple weeks off for Easter break.” Noah groans. “I have to keep reminding myself that I love my students. But this year’s group seems especially trying compared to usual; either that, or I’m just burnt out already.”

“You’re a teacher?” Rosy says, her voice lifting in surprise.

Noah’s body straightens, and a proud smile overtakes his face “I am. I teach Year 11 English Literature.”

“Ouch, teaching teenagers must be tough.” She winces.

Noah laughs loudly. “Definitely. But it’s rewarding too. It’s a trying time in their life. There’s a lot of pressure to pass exams and to choose what to do next in their life. Being a part of that, helping to guide them and set them up for their future, is what motivates me to get up and deal with all their tantrums and attitude every day,” he answers with a smile.

“That’s…a really inspiring outlook and take on it. Especially knowing that your job is making a positive impact on people’s lives. I envy you for that.”

A frown mars my face at her words. She doesn’t think she impacts lives? We’re all sitting here hanging on her every word and move.

“Beautiful, you spend your free, unpaid time caring for animals. I think that calls bullshit on what you just said and think about yourself,” Max interjects, leaning over to nudge her shoulder from his seat in the armchair next to her. The move pushes her closer to me. Our shoulders touch, and she doesn’t do anything to move away.

She feels good. Warm. Soft.

Mine.

“What do you do for work?” Bry asks, as he places his empty plate onto the coffee table.

My eyes flick back to Rosy, not wanting to miss anything as I drink up her every tiny detail. Her nose scrunches, head tilting to the side and exposing the slope of her neck.

“Sadly, nothing important or world changing. I’m an assistant at a recruitment agency. Some evenings, I do food deliveries too.” She shrugs, dropping her eyes to stare at her lap.

She works two jobs, goes to the gym, and volunteers two days a week?

And she just shrugs it off like it’s nothing.

“You’re important,” I snap, wincing at my tone. I need to try to be softer for her. Be more like Noah and say nice, flowery words and shit.

Her brows dart up as she looks at me. Why is that surprising to her? Bullshit people in her life not appreciating her enough. Makes me want to punch something, so I scrub a hand through my jaw roughly. Think flowery thoughts, something girly and nice. “You’ve changed our world.”

“Thank you, Nate,” she whispers, giving my finger a squeeze with hers. She’s making me feel uncomfortable looking at me like that; all wide eyes and soft lips.

She shouldn’t be thanking me for stating a fact.

Rosy wouldn’t be thanking me if she knew my soul’s already decided she’s mine. This is the sort of thing I’m probably supposed to ask before deciding, but fuck it, I can tell her later.

Maybe.

A small yawn stretches her face, and a pink flush skates across her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t yawning at you. I promise. I’m just tired,” she rushes to explain, all flustered and pretty, and a hand settles on my arm.

Concern hits me, and my body tenses.

Is she not sleeping enough?

Fuck, maybe I need to make sure she’s getting to bed on time. I don’t want something to happen to her because she was too tired to see it coming. What if she’s driving to work and crashes? Or…anything could fucking happen.

I stare intently at her. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Her eyes get all twinkly as they stare back at me. “Because I’m awake and here with you all…” It hits me that she’s teasing me.

A twitch pulls at my lips; the sass is cute.