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I lean in, and steal a chaste kiss from his lush mouth. “I want to enjoy this.”
He exhales like he’s relieved. “So, we go with it. We spend the rest of the summer enjoying each other’s company. And when it’s time for you to go home ... what do you see happening then?”
I chew on my bottom lip. “I don’t know. It’s going to be difficult.” I wave my hand around the room. “I already don’t want to leave this place. Getting close to you will make it harder.”
“Maybe we don’t have to figure it out, and make a plan. Maybe we can cross that bridge when we get to it. It’s not like we can never see each other again, just because your vacation is over.”
“You’re coming to New York for the charity gala in September.”
Silence hangs between us, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
Edward army crawls across the bed, wedging himself between both of our legs.
I reach out, and stroke the top of his soft head. “I can’t take him with me. They don’t allow pets in my building.”
Bryce’s eyes widen. “Oh, Charly.”
More tears threaten to spill over, but I blink them away. “Let’s not talk about this anymore, okay? When I came to Sunnyside, I promised myself I wouldn’t spend my time wallowing in sadness, and I don’t want to start now.” I sniffle. “The three of us are going to have the best summer ever. We’ll take this one day at a time.”
Bryce lifts my hand to his lips, and presses them to my knuckles. “One day at a time.”
For the rest of the morning, we take turns reading Peter Pan aloud to one another until Bryce’s eyelids droop, and sleep overtakes him. I watch him as he drifts off to the soft ticks of raindrops against the window. I close the book, and brush my fingertips over his forehead, my gaze tracing the contours of his face. So beautiful and strong. I hate seeing him in pain, especially knowing all he’s had to overcome. He’s hidden himself away for so long, and it’s such a damn shame because the world is missing out on Bryce Holden.
To think, I almost cancelled this trip, and would’ve missed out on him too.
Bryce
After Charly’s massage, and some more rest, I’m ready to get out of bed.
Edward stayed glued to my side while I slept. I pat his behind as I stand. “Come on, boy. Let’s go see where your mom is.”
He bounds off the bed and into the kitchen, his collar jingling down the hall.
Charly stands with her back to me at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smells delicious. Her hips sway to the soft tune she’s humming.
I slink behind her, and wrap my arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. “What are you cooking?”
She lifts a wooden spoon, cupping her hand underneath to catch the dripping sauce. “Chili. Santiago, the owner of the diner I work at, gave me his family recipe once, and Mom used to love it.”
I slide my lips around the spoon, and I’m hit with spicy chili powder and sweet tomato flavors. “Wow. This is outstanding.”
Charly grins. “You should taste it when he makes it. He doesn’t measure the ingredients or anything. He knows just by eyeballing everything.”
“My grandfather was the same way. You learn with practice, and eventually you don’t need recipes anymore.”
She places the lid on the pot, and twists the knob to lower the flame. “It should be ready soon. I have corn muffins in the oven to go with it.”
I pull her against me, craving the feel of her body. “Thank you for taking such good care of me. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
She stretches onto her toes, and presses her lips to mine. Within seconds, we’re breathless, our tongues tangled, our hands gripping onto each other as if we’re reaching for lifelines. Charly’s kiss is all-consuming. She kisses with her whole body, and I can feel her passion radiating off her skin. It makes me want to surrender every part of myself to her, to let her hold my heart in her hands because I know that she’ll take care of it.
Because I trust her.
It’s a terrifying truth, but I think I’m finally ready to conquer the fear.
She’s worth it.
The timer beeps, and we break apart, gasping for air.
