I hesitate, then start making my way deeper into the room. I sit on the edge of the bed, facing Evan. “Ok then. If you know what I’m going to offer, why don’t you go ahead and have the whole conversation for me. What’s your rebuttal? Some kind of moral high ground? Feels like you’re taking advantage of me? Blah blah blah.” I wave the words away. “Why can’t we just have sex like two consenting adults?” I ask as I cross my arms in front of my chest like a petulant child.
Evan walks towards me with an unreadable face. He cradles my cheeks in his hands and tilts his head close to me. After a long pause, he says, “Because I’m in love with you, Amelia.”
My breath hitches in my throat and my eyes go wide.
IN LOVE WITH ME?!
Not just the ominoushas feelings for me, but actual naming said feelings as LOVE?
His words crash into me and I replay every interaction I’ve ever had with Evan in an instant. From the holiday parties with family, to our fight in the pub. The stolen glances we’ve shared to our unforgettable night in Miami.
All this time. It’s always been Evan.
But. It’s still too soon.
He continues, saving me from having to use my words. “You don’t have to say anything back. Actually, I forbid you to.”
Well, that gets me going.
“Forbid?” My eyebrows shoot up.
“Yes. While we’re in this little weekend arrangement, I don’t want you saying anything that can be misconstrued. Don’t want you to say anything in the heat of the moment, then regret it when we’re back in the city.”
I stand up, moving his hands from my face to my waist. “I don’t regret anything I’ve said or done here, Evan. And I won’t.” I rest my hands on the back of his neck, pulling him in for a soft kiss.
Evan rests his forehead on mine, his will visibly slipping by the length I feel growing between his legs. “Amelia, we can’t.”
I know I may need more time to heal. Have more of a grace period before my very loud and very opinionated Dominican family are given free rein to comment on my relationship with Evan.
But I’m also not a dumb bitch.
C’mon. I’ve seen this hang up dozens of times in rom coms. This is the part where everyone yells at the girl for not realizing what’s right in front of her.
I get it.
I might be terrified to fall in love again. And I very well know that I may not survive Evan. But I also know that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t give this a chance. Give us a chance. So, in true Amelia form, I’m willing to negotiate.
“Evan we are going to have sex. And I am going to tell you why,” I say matter-of-factly.
Evan’s hold on my waist tightens. “Amelia, I’m not making another deal—”
“It’s you,” I declare.
“What?”
“I know I’m not ready to jump into a relationship right now...”
Evan’s shoulders slump and he drops his gaze to the floor. I hold my hands on his cheeks and lift them up, so he’s looking at me when I make my confession.
“But when I’m ready, it’s you. If you’re willing to wait a while until I’m ready, you’re the person I want to be with, have dreamt of—”
Before the words can fully leave my lips, my back is crashing against the mattress and Evan’s body is pinning me to the bed.
“Say it again,” he growls.
“It’s you, Evan. It’s always been you,” I say breathlessly.
He presses a hard and all-consuming kiss on my lips. Stealing any bit of air that I apparently don’t need, because I have his lips.
