Page 150 of Scarred

“Do you have any idea what seeing you in my number and sitting behind my net did to me tonight?”

“I have a pretty good idea,” I whisper.

“No, you don’t,” he says, shaking his head slowly. “I’m still reeling from the fact that you were there for me. It’s been a long time since I had someone to look for.”

His vulnerability is a direct arrow to my heart because I know he’s not just talking about tonight.

He’s talking about all the other nights before this one. All the moments when the crowd was screaming his name, and he still felt alone.

And out of everyone in the arena, he chose to look for me.

“I’m glad I can be that person you look for,” I say softly.

“Me too,” he admits quietly.

A small smile plays on his lips as he picks up our bags and presses his floor number again, this time stepping out when it opens seconds later.

Taking his hand, I follow him to his door and walk into a quiet house.

“I want to check on Scarlett real quick if you want to put your bag in my room,” he says, leading us up the stairs.

When he goes to check on his daughter, I walk toward his bedroom and step inside, wanting to freshen up a bit.

Dropping my bag on the bathroom counter, I use the restroom real quick before washing my hands and running my fingers through my hair to tame some of the waves.

My hand drops when I notice he still has the toothbrush he gave me in his holder next to his.

“Thought you might need it again,” he says behind me, and my eyes flick to the mirror where I see him leaning against the doorframe, watching me. “The drawer on the left has more things you might need,” he motions with his head.

Curious, I open the drawer, and my eyes widen when I see some of the products I use plus expensive-looking lotions that I’ve never even heard of.

“I thought it might be easier to keep a few things here.” Pushing off the door frame, he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “There’s an empty drawer too in my room and space in my closet,” he says quietly.

“Cayden…” I whisper, my throat thick with emotion as I lift my eyes to his in the mirror. My words fail me as I take in the exposed rawness that’s etched across his face. I know how big a step this is for him and what this means to him.

This isn’t just a drawer.

It’s him making space for me in somewhere that he never planned on letting anyone else in.

“I’ve stared at the damn toothbrush next to mine for days,” he says, burying his face in my neck. “It’s just a fucking piece of plastic, but it made me smile every time I walked past it. I thought, if a toothbrush could do that, what would seeing more of your things do to me, so I filled up a drawer with stuff that I’ve seen you use, and Savi helped with the rest.”

“Thank you,” I say, turning around and wrapping my arms around him.

“I like having you here, Luna,” he admits quietly. “So, I’m bribing you with an empty drawer in my dresser and the best spot in my closet in hopes that you’ll want to stay more.”

“Well, since it’s your best spot,” I tease, grinning into his shirt.

“I knew the closet space would work,” he chuckles.

“Girls do love their closet space.”

“You can take my whole damn closet if it makes you happy.”

“I don’t need a whole closet to make me happy,” I smile, looking up at him and shaking my head. “I just need you.”

“You are way too easy to please, little moon. Just so you know, I would have given you the whole dresser, too,” he murmurs, lifting me and setting me on the counter as he steps between my legs.

“And I would have stayed just because you asked,” I whisper.