Page 110 of She’s Worth the Risk

Her expression softens. “Nick,” she murmurs, but I’m not done.

“I’m going to tell the department chair about us.”

“Shit.” Her eyes widen. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” I say firmly. “I’m tired of sneaking around. I want to be with you in public. I want the entire world to know we’re together.” I take her hands, looking into those beautiful gold-rimmed eyes. “And I want you to move in with me, honey. To make this permanent.”

Uncertainty flickers in her gaze. She opens her mouth to say something when her bag buzzes on the counter. Glancing at it with a frown, she pulls out her phone, her eyes darting apologetically to me. It’s not until she answers the call that I realize I’ve been holding my breath.

“Hello?”

I force myself to take a step back, trying to be patient, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want her to get off the phone. To tell me she wants everything I’ve just offered her.

“Oh, wow, really?” Her expression morphs with surprise, and she glances away as she listens, nodding. “For sure. Yes, okay.” Then she slides her phone back into her purse, a crease on her forehead as she brings her gaze back to mine. “Violet’s had her baby early.”

Oh. Shit.

“Is the baby okay?” I ask, and she nods.

“Yes. It’s only a few weeks early, thankfully.”

I breathe out. “That’s good.”

“Yeah.” She nods. “Everyone is at the hospital now.” She winces, lifting her gaze to mine. “I should… I should go.”

“Oh.” My heart sinks. She’s leaving, right now?

She opens and closes her mouth, hesitating, then rises from the stool. “I know this is awful timing. I just… I need a minute to think. Can we talk tomorrow?”

I straighten my glasses, nodding. “Of course.”

She quickly ducks back into the bedroom to change, and I hover in the kitchen, trying to process the sudden turn of events. The shift in the atmosphere that makes me uneasy.

A moment later, she returns, rising on her toes to kiss me goodbye. “I’ll come by tomorrow night after I close up the community arts center, okay?”

“Okay.”

With a regretful smile, she slips out the door. I watch her go, trying not to think about the way she hesitated when I asked her to move in. Trying not to replay the way everything changed when her phone rang.

Trying to tell myself we’ll figure this out.

41

ZINNIA

My heart hammers as I close Nick’s front door behind me.

I shouldn’t have walked out. Not now. Not after he said all those lovely, wonderful things to me.

But there’s no denying I was grateful for the interruption when my phone rang.

I don’t know why. I love Nick in a way I’ve never loved anyone. That moment we just shared in his bed was everything. I feel so close to him. So wanted, loved, and safe.

So why do I need a moment? Why am I walking away from him, instead of pulling him close?

These thoughts play on an endless loop as I take the F train to the hospital in Park Slope. They nag at me, the guilt at walking out chafing against something else, something I can’t put my finger on.

“You made it!” Daisy says, pulling me into a hug when I find her in the waiting room.