I frown. "What?"
Her voice is softer now, more vulnerable than I think I've ever heard it. "I don't know how to do this with you, how to...cross that line and not ruin everything."
Something in my chest tightens, understanding washing over me. She's not afraid of me, or even of us. She's afraid of losing what we already have, afraid that if we take this step and it doesn't work, she'll lose the one person who's always been there.
But I don't let her pull away. I keep her there, pulling her even closer, because I know she feels it too. I know this is worth the risk.
"We don't have to figure it all out tonight." I run my thumb along the small strip of exposed skin at her waist, and she shivers. "Just say yes."
She closes her eyes for a second, breathing me in, her body softening in my hold. Then—slowly, hesitantly—she looks up, her eyes locking onto mine.
She exhales softly, and then—"Okay."
It's quiet, barely a whisper, but fuck, if it isn't like someone just shocked me back to life. The single word courses through me, igniting something I've kept carefully banked for years.
Because this is it. She's saying yes. To me. To us. To trying.
A slow smirk pulls at the corner of my mouth, my hands tightening on her waist. "Yeah?"
She bites her lip like she already regrets giving in, but she nods. "Yeah."
"Tomorrow night," I say, my voice low, rough around the edges. "I'll pick you up at six."
She hesitates. "Where are we going?"
I grin. "Not telling."
She narrows her eyes. "Jaxon."
"Madison," I mock, smirking as I dip my head just enough that our noses brush, just enough to make her breath hitch. "You trust me?"
She studies me, chewing on her bottom lip, but she doesn't pull away. If anything, she leans in the slightest bit, like gravity's working against her, like she doesn't want to leave this space we've created between us.
Then, finally, she exhales. "Fine. You can pick me up at six."
I grin, my fingers trailing just barely along her waist as I lean in, voice dropping to a murmur. "I knew you couldn't resist me, Mads."
She huffs, rolling her eyes, but the pink in her cheeks betrays her. "You're so annoying."
"And yet, you just agreed to go on a date with me."
She groans, shoving my shoulder lightly, but she's smiling. The song ends, leading into another more up-tempo tune, but we just stand there, my arms still wrapped around her while I grin like a fool.
And I don't let her go, not when she's finally where she belongs.
I pull a plain hoodie over my head, adjusting the hem before grabbing my watch off my dresser. Just as I'm slipping it on, Carter strolls into my room uninvited, flopping down on my bed like he owns the place.
He eyes me up and down before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Seriously, man? That's what you're wearing on your first date with Madison?"
I shake my head, grabbing my keys off the nightstand. "We don't need to be dressed up for where we're going."
He lifts a brow. "You're taking her bowling, aren't you?"
I throw a sock at his head. "Shut up."
He catches it mid-air, grinning. "I just figured if you were finally getting her on a date, you'd at least try to impress her."
I roll my eyes. "First of all, I always impress her. Second, if I show up in a button-down and slacks, she'll panic. She needs to feel comfortable, not like I'm forcing her into something serious right off the bat."
