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Watching her keep her distance tests every limit I have. I grip the neck of my beer bottle just to give my hands something to do, fighting the urge to cross the roof and carry her right back into the building where we can be alone and I can...

What, though?

What can I do?

Like I told her, the ball’s in her court at this point. I’m not about to force myself on her.

Trace and Colston stand on either side of me, running interference so I don't have to make small talk while I try to hold my shit together. They spend the next hour talking shit about the base's new navigation software, arguing over college football prospects, and placing bets on whether Trace's radar rig could survive a direct hit from an EF4 tornado.

Across the roof, Goldie throws her head back and laughs at something Tatum says. The bright pink of her fuckhot bikini flashes through the sheer black dress when she moves, keeping my attention locked right on her and my dick at half-mast. I scrape my thumbnail through the wet paper label on my beer bottle, shredding it to give my hands something to do. I want to be the one making her laugh. I want to be standing next to her. But I hold my ground. I promised I wouldn't push, and I'm a man of my goddamn word.

I don’t know why I’m still here other than I just want to be where she is.

By the time the party finally winds down, the crowd thins out. I'm tossing my empty bottle into the recycling bin when Goldie walks over to the bar. The fake smile she’s been wearing all night is gone, leaving her looking soft and a little exhausted.

"Will you walk me down?" she asks quietly.

"Yeah, of course," I say immediately.

Since I've had a few beers, I toss Colston my keys. He and Trace head straight for my truck to get the AC going, arguing about where to get food on the way home. Colston’s trying to convince Trace to hit up a late-night taco stand so he can prove he can eat their ghost pepper salsa without crying, and Trace is starting to cave.

I walk Goldie to her SUV, slapping a mosquito off my neck in the dark. She hits the unlock button on her key fob, and the headlights flash.

She pulls her car door open, but she doesn't get in right away. She turns to face me. Without saying a word, she steps into my space and wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tight.

I don't hesitate. My arms come right up to hold her, pulling her flush against my chest. I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in.

And then I finally exhale.

"Don't give up on me," she whispers against my chest.

I tighten my grip on her. "Never," I tell her. "I told you I'm not walking away. Take all the time you need."

She pulls back, giving me a small, genuine smile.

"Text me when you get home so I know you made it," I say.

"I will."

Across the lot, the headlights of my truck flick on. Colston rolls down the driver's side window. "Night, Goldie girl!"

She laughs, waving at him. "Night, Jenny! Nice to meet you, Trace!"

Trace leans forward from the backseat to give her a two-finger salute.

She climbs into the driver's seat and shuts the door. I step back, watching her start the engine and pull out onto the street.

I walk over to the truck and pull the passenger door open.

Trace shakes his head from the back row. "Dude. I've known you a decade and I've never seen you this gone over somebody."

"Shut up," I tell him, climbing into the shotgun seat and pulling the door shut.

Trace can talk shit all he wants. Giving her space tonight was the right call, and the way she came back to me just proved it. She wants me just as much as I want her. She just needs the time to get past the toxic shit in her head.

But going in the opposite direction while she drives home alone is a tough pill to swallow. I want to be the one taking her home. I want to wake up next to her tomorrow and be there for every minute of this pregnancy, wrapped up in all that loud, gorgeous fire she brings to everything she does. Forcing myself to keep my distance when the physical pull between us is this strong is a bitch, but I'll do it for as long as she needs.

When she finally lets me all the way in, I already know it's going to be worth every second of the wait.