“Of course,” I say, getting out to help her inside.
Once upstairs, I tuck her into bed, stripping down to my boxers and sliding in beside her. She immediately curls up against me, her head on my chest, arm draped over my stomach.
“Idoknow you love me, you know,” she mutters groggily, her breath warm against my skin.
I smile, resting my lips against her hair. “Get some sleep, Lady Lightning.”I’m fucking obsessed with you.
Humming softly, her body sinks deeper into my hold. Within moments, her breathing evens out, and she’s fast asleep.
Holding her close, I replay her words in my mind, letting them settle deep inside me. This is where I’m meant to be, right here with her. And when she’s ready, when she’s sober, I’ll be here to tell her exactly how much I love her.
Chapter thirty-three
You’re stuck with me now
Charlie
The muted daylight sneaks through the curtains, stabbing at my skull like a personal attack. I groan, burying my face deeper into the pillow, trying to escape the brightness and the tiny hammers pounding in my head.
I shift to find a more comfortable position, when I realize there’s a warm, solid body beside me. Memories of last night trickle back, and with them comes a rush of embarrassment.
Shit. I sang karaoke. Not just sang, but belted out “I’m a Survivor” like it was my final audition forThe Voice. And then... fuck. I tried to ask him if he loved me.
But then other memories filter through: the way Jake held me close, steady and grounded, refusing to say those three words while I was drunk. Because he wanted it to be real. For me to remember them. That thought alone makes me realize how certain I am about him.
I crack one eye open, hoping Jake’s still asleep so I can slip away to wallow in my humiliation alone.
But no. Of course he’s awake. Propped up on one elbow, grinning down at me with that devilish look in his eyes, like he’s been waiting for me to wake up just to torment me.
“Morning, Lady Lightning,” he says, his voice annoyingly chipper.
I pull the blanket over my head. “Don’t talk so loud.”
He chuckles, the sound vibrating through the mattress. “Feeling rough?”
“Like death,” I mumble, voice muffled by the covers. “Tell me I didn’t embarrass myself too much.”
“Hmm…” His hand slides up my side, warm and gentle. “Shall I start with your stellar karaoke performance or the part where you loudly declared I’m your boyfriend to half the bar?”
I peek out from under the covers, shooting him a glare. “I did not.”
“Oh, you absolutely did. And then you asked me if I loved you.”
My face flushes, and I immediately hide under the blanket again. “Can we just pretend last night didn’t happen?”
Jake laughs, pulling the covers back down. “No way. Highlight of my week.”
I groan dramatically, covering my face with my hands.
His teasing fades into something softer as he takes my hands away, his touch tender. “Hey, it wasn’t that bad. You were just enthusiastic.”
I squint up at him. “You didn’t… record the singing, did you?”
“Nope," he pauses with a grin. "But Zoe might have.”
I close my eyes. “Kill me now.”
Jake leans in, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Can’t. We’ve got a cabin to get to.”