Page 92 of You're The One
I nod, and she moves to open the door. But as she starts to climb out, I reach for her wrist.
She pauses, eyes flicking back to mine.
“What about for us?”
Her brows pull together.
“Hope,” I clarify.
A beat. Then she smiles. I think I might love that smile
“Yeah,” she murmurs. “I think there’s hope for us yet.”
THIRTY-ONE
Mia is perchedon the counter with a spoon in her mouth. Just like she was a couple of weeks ago, eating Marshmallow Sky. I’ll never not think of her when I think of blue ice cream.
I stocked it the second I got home—just in case this moment ever came about.
Her onmycounter.
In my space.
Just us.
Tomorrow is our last day in Chicago, and the final group date before the next elimination. That’ll bring it down to three women.
And naturally, the producers decided it should involve hockey. The women playing it, to be more specific. It should be… interesting. And I’m sure Ryan will take the opportunity to dig for information. Something I’m not exactly looking forward to, since I have no idea what the hell to tell him.
But I don’t want to think about any of that tonight. I want to soak in this unexpected alone time with the girl who’s quickly taking over my whole fucking heart.
Mia sticks the spoon into the pint of ice cream, sets it on the counter next to her hip, and picks up the dessert plate the chef left us.
She takes a bite, then smiles. That secret one from her dating app profile. The one I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have aimed at me.
She started giving me that look weeks ago, and I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill. If I had to choose one thing I missed most this past week, it’s that particular look. The one I got out of her at least once a day on our morning walks. No cameras. No other people. Just her and me.
The handful of days the show’s schedule kept us apart felt like a lifetime. And after what happened at the airport, I started to wonder if we’d ever get another moment alone.
I close the gap between us, gripping her behind the knees and pulling her close.
She lifts a spoonful of flourless chocolate cake, topped with a sliced strawberry, and brings it to my mouth.
I take the bite, though I’d rather taste the flavor from her lips.
Swallowing, I ask, “Dance with me?”
Her brows scrunch together. “There’s no music.”
I pull open a drawer and take out the device that connects to my music streaming app and sound system. “Pick something.”
“Oh, you’re trusting me with the music choice… risky.”
She spends a few minutes searching, and I spend them watching her. The concentration in her brow. The flutter of her lashes. The tilt of her lips. The soft pillow of them.
And just like that, I’m back to wanting to kiss her.
Fuck, who am I kidding? It’s all I’ve thought about since our first.
