Page 21 of Keeper of Hearts
"I have." I smile at her, running my thumb over her soft bottom lip. "It's okay, though, baby. I'd rather be in your shadow than anywhere else in the world. With you is my happy place. It's where I'd choose to be every goddamn minute of the day."
"I was going to ask you to Prom yesterday," she blurts and then squeezes her eyes closed, almost like she regrets saying it or is afraid of what I'll say in response.
And I, desperately, want to tell her everything right here and now. But…she deserves the big declaration. She deserves for everyone to know, once and for all, that she's my choice and always will be. I'll get on my knees in front of everyone for her. I'll beg in front of everyone for her. That's not a hardship. Losing her is a hardship. It's a goddamn tragedy that I don't think I'll ever recover from.
It doesn't matter if we're young. It doesn't matter if we have the whole future ahead of us. She is my future, the one thing I've always been absolutely sure of.
When I close my eyes and think about what my life looks like in ten years, in twenty years, in fifty, she's always at the center of it. It's always her face I see. I know that isn't going to change.
"I'm sorry I ruined it." I tip her face up, forcing her to look at me. "I'm not going with anyone else."
"But you said…"
"I know. I know I owe you answers and an explanation, and so much more. And I know I have no place to ask you for anything right now, but I'm going to ask anyway, baby. Can you give me until Friday before you decide to go with Corey?"
"I already asked him," she whispers regretfully.
"I know. Just…give me until Friday. If you still want to go with him after that, I'll back off. I won't like it, but I'll accept it if that's what you really want. Please?" My heart is in my throat while I wait for her to decide.
She scrutinizes my expression, hesitating, and then she nods, just once. "Until Friday."
I lean forward, brushing my lips across hers in a soft kiss, one far softer than the one I want to take. I want to consume her, justkeep kissing her until I'm starved for oxygen and she's the only thing in my lungs. But…not yet.
Ihaveto do this right.
Chapter Ten
Troian
I'm not really surprised to find Gage waiting on my front porch bright and early. I think I knew he'd be out here before I even left the bed. It's probably why I've felt like a whole swarm of butterflies has been dancing in my stomach all morning.
"Morning, butterfly." He pushes away from the column, stepping toward me.
My heart turns a flip when he leans forward, brushing his lips across my cheek. Part of me wants to jump up and down and squeal. Part of me feels like I'm floating. But another part—a small part I wish didn't exist—keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop, for him to tell me that he's just playing or that this is just a joke.
He doesn't tell me that. Instead, he steals my books from me, gracefully sliding them from my arms to his like he's done it a thousand times before.
"Gage," I protest softly.
"I know." He grins at me, boyish and sweet. "You don't like to feel helpless, but I'm not carrying them because you're helpless, Troian. You've never been that. You're the strongest person I know. I'm carrying them because if I don't, I can't promise my hands won't find more interesting things to touch."
My cheeks go scarlet. He notices, and a wicked chuckle rumbles from his lips, hitting me low in the belly.
"You hate being the center of attention. Since the movie starts filming soon and there have been paparazzi coming around for photos, I figured you probably wouldn't want pictures of us doing what we did yesterday plastered all over the fucking internet."
"Definitely not," I squeak, casting a furtive glance around. But if there are paparazzi out here, they're not anywhere I can see.
I let myself relax slightly.
At least until we make it to the truck and he runs his hand down my side as I'm climbing in.
I practically fall into the seat, all graceless and awkward.
He just chuckles in response, his eyes shining brilliant blue, and deposits my books at my feet before closing my door. I sink back into the seat, trying to get my mind and heart under control as he circles around, but it's a losing battle.
Ever since our talk yesterday, I've been a whirlwind of thought and hope, trying to talk myself out of expecting anything, all while expecting everything at the same time.
I don't know what we are right now. I don't know what's happening between us. I just know that it's different. It's new and different and feels dangerously close to being what I've always wanted.
