Page 120 of The Persistence of Thornes
With a sigh, I lean back and reach for the bra, but he yanks it away and shakes his head, insisting on dressing me again.
I let him clasp it behind my back and slide my shirt on, but there’s no way I’ll get back into my underwear and jeans while I’m on his lap, so I slide back into the driver’s seat to finish dressing.
Caleb finally removes the condom, tying it off and shoving it into his pocket as he yanks his jeans and boxer briefs back into place.
Once we’ve mostly righted ourselves, I start the car, ready to pick my brothers up and get home. Before I can put it in gear, though, Caleb grabs the side of my face, pulling me in for a long kiss. When he pulls back, he gives me a long, steady look.
He doesn’t have to say anything.
I don’t either.
But it’s there between us, those three words I’m not ready to speak or hear. The words that just might ruin me.
CHAPTER 30
CALEB
At the sound of a creaking step, I spin and find Halle padding into the room. The sun is high in the sky, the kitchen, where I’m working today, lit up with natural light.
I straighten from my slouched position on a barstool when the defeat in her expression registers.
“What’s wrong?” Without waiting for a response, I’m up and out of my seat and striding for her.
She tucks her phone into her back pocket, shaking her head like she can shake off the look.
“I… that was the guy who’s going to repair the flooring. He said they had a cancellation, so they can start on my place early. They’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Oh.” The news hits me like a ton of fucking bricks to the chest. It’sgoodnews, I suppose. Halle and her brothers can return to their home and their normal lives. But I’ve loved having people in my house. It’s made it feel like a home again. I’ve loved havingHallehere even more. Her brothers too. They feel like family. “That’s good news.”
“Yeah, it is.” Despite her agreement, her words are full of dejection.
I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb along her smooth, soft skin. “You don’t sound happy about it.”
Her whole body deflates. “I’m being stupid.”
I angle her head back, forcing her to look at me. “Whatever you’re feeling, I promise it’s not stupid.”
She bites her lip, her eyes darting away from mine.
“Shh.” I move my hand down to her neck, relishing the way her pulse flutters against my palm. “Just tell me.”
With a groan, she lifts her arms and lets them drop to her sides. “What if we move back home, and you… we… What if with the distance is too much?”
It takes effort to hold back laughter. It’s ridiculous. “Distance” in this respect is a quarter of an acre at most. But if I laugh, it’ll only confirm, in her mind, that her insecurities are silly.
“Baby.” I pull her in close.
She’s stiff at first, but I hold tight, and like I knew she would, she eventually melts into me.
“I hate to break it to you.” I bury my face in her hair. “But you live next door. I don’t think you need to be worried about the distance. What’s the real issue?”
She rests her chin on my chest and pouts up at me. It’s fucking adorable. A quirk I never would have expected from her until a few weeks ago. She’s gotten comfortable with me. More and more, bits and pieces of the true Halle peek out, like the sun appearing between the clouds on a rainy day.
“I don’t know.”
I rub my finger down her temple, then her cheek. “I think you do know. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I can’t make you feel better if you don’t tell me what’s really wrong.”
With a sigh, she tries to pull away, but I hold her there. “What if when I’m not here all the time, you realize I’m not really that great and you don’t want to see me anymore?”
