“I’m—” I faltered, trying to summon the courage to be vulnerable. He’d met me more than halfway. Multiple times. Warmth rushed to my face, and my nerves shot through the roof. “Crazy about you,” I said. “Certifiable. I’m just scared.”

Or, you know, terrified.

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere. That’s why I’m here right now.” He grinned, gesturing to the two of us. “Stubborn, remember?”

“Thank god for that.” I picked up my phone and checked the time. My heart sank. “It’s nine thirty, and you probably have to be up early tomorrow. Can you stay for a little longer?”

“I can give it another hour or so, but I should go move my truck first.”

“Why?”

Chase laughed, standing and making his way to the door. “I’m parked the way you sleep. Diagonally.”

“When you get back…” I said. “Can we pick up where we left off?” Thin walls be damned. I could turn on music or something. Or they could leave. I really didn’t care.

He stopped and glanced back at me, a smile playing on his lips. “Count on it, baby.”

38. missed this

CHAPTER 38

MISSED THIS

Chase

It took some serious effort to park properly the second time around. I was so distracted that I had to reverse and straighten out my truck three times to get within the lines—laughable for someone whose livelihood literally depended on good aim and depth perception. But there was a decent chance I would stay longer than the hour I’d promised, so I took the time to get it right so I wouldn’t get ticketed or towed.

Bolting back inside, I ignored Jillian and Amelia’s poisonous glares and resisted the urge to flip them off. I’d consider it award-winning self-restraint and serious personal growth on my part.

When I walked into her room, Bailey was sitting cross-legged on her white comforter, long blond hair hanging in a curtain as she glanced at her phone. And my desire went into overdrive.

“Hey, beautiful.” I shut the door to her bedroom behind me, quickly securing the lock and double-checking it for good measure.

She looked up from the screen and locked it, setting it aside on the nightstand. “Hi.” Her lips curved into a small smile as her doe eyes raked over my body, expression a mixture of affection and lust.

Fuck.

“Just so you know,” I said, sitting on the bed beside her, “your roommates are downstairs watching TV with the volume turned up excessively high.”

Bailey smirked. “Probably trying to prove they aren’t listening.”

“Probably. But they’re protesting a little too much for me to buy it.” My gaze traveled around the room, scanning methodically. “Either way, got a speaker? We can throw on some music to muffle your screams.”