Page 115 of Brighter Together

For one horrible second, everything inside me drops.

This is it.

Manchester was a test.

Maybe he has decided we failed.

Maybe last night was incredible and still not enough.

I hate how quickly fear takes over.

“What about us?” I ask.

Tommy looks almost as uncertain as I feel.

“I don’t want this to stop.”

The breath I was holding leaves me. “But?”

He exhales. “I’d prefer if we didn’t make it public at work yet. Not because I want to hide you. I just think we should give ourselves time to work out what this is before the entire hotel starts discussing it.”

I stare at him.

That is what he is worried about?

A smile pulls at my mouth before I can stop it. “So you want to keep seeing me?”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Fuck, Ella. Of course I do.”

The force of it makes me laugh.

“I’ve wanted this for months. And yesterday was an incredible day, despite the awful presentations. I’m not going back to pretending I don’t want you in my life.”

Warmth spreads through me.

“But I don’t want you feeling like you’re some secret I’m ashamed of,” he continues.

I put both hands against his chest.

“The way I see it, I kissed you first and I’m the one who asked you to fuck me last night.”

Tommy throws his head back laughing.

“So technically,” I add, “you’re my dirty little secret.”

“That is deeply reassuring.”

“I thought so.”

I rise onto my toes and kiss him.

Softly.

When I pull back, I keep my hands against his chest.

“Joking aside, we’re adults. We can behave professionally at work.”

Tommy gives me a doubtful look. “I can,” he says smugly.