“Hey.” He steps through the door and plants a kiss onto his sister’s head, who’s reading on the sofa, before heading towards me in the kitchen. “Everything okay?”
“All good.” I glance at my watch – I’m disgustingly late. Miguel’s going to kill me.
“I came back as quickly as I could, but the roads are icy and I had to walk slowly. I slipped a few times.”
Mila gets up from the sofa and disappears into the bathroom. When the door closes, Sean grabs my hand to get my attention.
It’s spontaneous and genuine and feels indescribably good.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You stayed here with her, stayed with me last night. You cooked, supported me, and…” My fingers link instinctively with his. Sean bites his lip, and I feel the heat of my skin meld with his.
“I stayed because I wanted to.” My voice drops dangerously, sinking into something risky and intimate. “I’m glad I could help.”
Sean lowers his gaze for a second, as if he couldn’t bear it; this intensity, all the things we want to do and say. This moment that feels so true, so real.
I squeeze his hands, and he looks back up at me. His eyes are deep and clear.
“You should go.” Sean takes a step back, letting my fingers slide from his, with no warning.
I feel alone, exposed. I feel like I can’t do this again. I feel like I can’t give anymore, can’t even try.
“I’d better…” I nod towards the door on the other side of the apartment, but don’t move.
There’s something in him, something in us, and I’m terrified that our agreement has nothing to do with it.
“Maybe I could come back.”
His eyes snap up.
“We never finish up that late during the week. I could, maybe…” I shrug, uncomfortable. “Bring dessert.”
“D-Dessert.”
“Well, dinner’s ready. You just have to heat it up. And we make a great cheesecake at the restaurant.”
He smiles.
“There’s ice cream in the freezer. And it tastes great with the cheesecake. Trust me.”
“I like cheesecake.”
“And does Mila? Like it?”
He nods. His eyes grow wide and hopeless. There’s no turning back from this disaster.
Sean moves his hand and his fingers brush lightly against mine for an instant as we both gasp in the very same breath, the same breath that has left us suspended in each other’s gaze.
“I don’t want to, but I really have to go.”
“See you later?”
“You bet.”
I walk past him with a heavy heart and reach the door. I hear Sean’s footsteps behind me and I turn in the doorway.
