Chapter 36

“It’s…fast, isn’t it?”

My heart pounded wildly. Not a no. I could work with that.

“Not fast. Or maybe it is, but it’s not too fast. The way we feel about each other, it’s not going to change, yeah? It’s only going to get deeper.”

“Yeah…”

I let the silence consume us, waiting for him to say more. From the way he swallowed repeatedly, I wondered if maybe he couldn’t.

I cupped his cheek. His finally opened his eyes, and that sharp, blue gaze landed directly on mine. I smiled, hoping he could see how much I loved him, how much I wanted this, in my expression.

“It’s okay to say ‘not yet,’” I told him. “If you aren’t ready, you can tell me. I don’t want to push or rush you. I just want to be withyou.”

Another few minutes where we stared at each other and breathed. He had to make the next move. I momentarily thought to take it all back, to say “never mind.” But I wanted this with every fiber of my being. And Austin needed to know it.

“Um, where would we live?”