Page 95 of Ashes of Us

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We were standing too close. Close enough to see the faint freckles across her nose, the way her breath clouded between us. Close enough that if I leaned forward just slightly?—

Don’t even think about it, I thought.Don't fuck this up.

But she wasn't moving either. Her hand was still touching mine, her eyes locked on my face.

"Piper," I said, her name coming out rougher than I meant it to.

"Yeah?"

My hand came up on its own. Hovering near her face, not quite touching, giving her every chance to step back.

"Can I...?”

I couldn't finish the question. Couldn't ask for something I had no right to want.

But she was still there. Still looking at me like she was trying to figure something out.

My heart was slamming against my ribs. Every muscle tensed with the effort of not closing the distance. Of waiting. Of letting her decide.

Then she stepped back.

The cold air rushed between us.

"No," she said, her voice small and uncertain. "We can't."

I dropped my hand immediately and put the counter between us. Gave her space.

"Okay," I said.

"I'm sorry, I just?—"

"You have nothing to be sorry about." I meant it. "Nothing."

I grabbed my jacket and forced myself to move at a normal pace. Not rushing. Just leaving because that was for the best.

At the door, I paused, my hand on the frame.

"Liam."

I turned.

She looked small standing there in her empty bakery. Uncertain in a way I'd never seen her before.

"I don't know if I'm ready," she said. "For any of this. I don't know anything right now."

The words hit like a punch to the chest. Not because she was saying no, but because she was sayingI don't know.

Which meant maybe. Someday. If I didn't fuck it up.

"That's okay," I said. "You don't have to know."

I walked out before I could say anything else. Before I could push and ruin whatever fragile thing we were building.

The cold November air hit me like a slap. I walked to my truck, hands shaking, heart still racing.

She'd almost let me kiss her.

Then she'd stopped.

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