Page 54 of Never Going to Care

Now it’s just a matter of getting her to agree to it.

Today’s not the day for that discussion. Today I just want to hold her in my arms and think about the day we’ve had. I want to revel in the memories and soak up how fucking good it feels to be near her.

She’s all I need and now that she’s met my sisters, I can’t wait to take her to a family dinner even more than before. Can’t fucking wait.

CHAPTER 18

CELESTE

There are only two days left until the two weeks is up. I don’t know how to feel about it. I don’t like to be conflicted. I much prefer my mind to be clear and for me to know what I want to do.

It’s always been that way before, but ever since Hale crashed into my life it’s like I’ve been swept up in a whirlwind. I don’t know what to do about it. Maybe because, most of all, I like it.

I like being caught up in his storm. I like the way he sometimes makes me feel off balance. I like the way he looks at me like I’m the center of everything. I like the way he holds me and makes me feel cared for.

I even like the way I love him. Now that I’ve had a little time to process it and be happy with it at least.

At first it freaked me out big time. How could it not? I might have had a few relationships, but I knew I never loved those guys.

To have Hale in my life is like being around a force of nature. I know it could destroy me. But it could also be beyond beautiful and breathtaking.

He hasn’t destroyed me yet. I’m trying to put faith in that, but it’s hard.

The day Hale took me to his sister’s bakery, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the realization that I love him, even though he was showing me all the ways he feels the same way about me. I just wasn’t sure if I could trust it or not.

The moment we got back to his place, I put some distance between us. I just wanted some time to think and process.

He was so damn cute when he came to me with big puppy dog eyes. His voice was vulnerable and hesitant, "Are you mad at me? I can’t stand the thought that I fucked this up, Starlight.”

I let out a big, soulful sigh. “I’m not mad. I was a little annoyed at first for not having any warning about meeting your sisters, but I’m not mad.”

It was hard to even hold onto my annoyance with him, especially as he kneeled at my feet and looked up at me like I was his fucking queen. Anyone would have softened at that. I’m just a mortal woman and I stood no chance against his storm.

His large hands engulfed mine, his thumbs running over the backs of my hands and lulling all the worries swirling in my head. He pushes, “Are you sure?”

I couldn’t help but smile at him. “I’m sure, Hale.” I leaned into him and kissed his chin, feeling the prickly short hair of his beard made me think about how they feel rasping against the skin on the inside of my thighs. I whispered, “I really like your sisters.”

The smile he gave me was so big and bright that I had to blink a few times to take it all in. It was disarming and filled with so much joy.

“Yeah?” His voice was so hopeful all I could do was nod. “They really like you too,” he promised before he took my lips in a long, sweet kiss.

I melted into him, pushing aside all the worry in my heart over the fact that I love him. Was I afraid of him and hurting me or was I just afraid? As he laid me on the bed and showed me just how much I mean to him, his heart matching my own, I realized it was just fear holding me back from him.

I swear the fates were smiling down on me because when I went back into work Monday morning, the first email in my box was about Joe being fired. I barely stopped myself from doing a jig in my office, but I did. That would have been unprofessional.

I settled for giving myself a high five and pumping my fist a few times. See? Way more professional.

Since then, my days have been filled with work, but my nights have been filled with Hale. It’s like I can taste the life we can build together. It’s so damn close.

I know I just need to reach out and take it and hold it close.

I want to talk to him about it tonight, but I’m nervous. It’s not out of fear, it’s just because this is big. Who wouldn’t be nervous.

He drove me to work this morning and I smile big when I walk out of the office building to find Hale idling at the curb. He’s looking around and surveying his surroundings. It’s something I’ve noticed him do a lot.

I don’t question it; I know where it comes from. I would think it’s difficult to turn off the kind of training he has. It’s ingrained in him now. My heart lifts because he uses it to keep people safe.

One of the things we’ve talked about over the last two weeks is his job. He never gives me too many details, but he’s told me about some of the cases he’s worked on with Sullivan Protection. I was grateful as fuck they kept Piper safe from my brother’s sick obsessed fan, but the more cases I hear about, the more I respect the man I love.

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