Chapter 59: The Smile and the Interrogation
I have never been happier. -Elias
Elias
He didn’t remember the drive home.
He knew he stopped at every red light.
He knew the radio was playing something soft.
He knew his fingers tapped the steering wheel the whole way like he couldn’t keep still.
But mostly, he knew he was smiling.
The kind of smile that tugged so wide it made his jaw ache.
The kind he couldn’t stop even when he was alone in the kitchen, setting his keys down next to a half-empty protein bar.
It was ridiculous. He felt ridiculous.
He’d spent most of his adult life moving from one day to the next, clean lines and strict schedules, mission reports and backup plans.
And now…
One dinner.
One walk.
One hand held in the quiet of a truck.
And he was completely undone.
She’d looked at him like he mattered.
Not like a protector.
Not like a safety net.
Just a man.
And when she said, “I like this,” he felt something inside him shift.
Like the part of him that had been locked up for years finally clicked open.
He leaned against the counter, hand on the back of his neck, grinning like an idiot.
“Oh my god,” he muttered to himself. “I’m so screwed.”
He was in trouble.
The good kind.
The Liana kind.
Liana
She closed the door as quietly as she could.
Didn’t matter.
Alex’s voice came from the kitchen like a laser-guided missile.
“You better get in here and spill every single detail.”
Liana froze. “You’re home early.”
“I came back for this exact reason.” A pause. “Wait—oh my god. You’re blushing.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Your entire face is pink. Girl, what happened?”
Liana set down her bag, sat on the edge of the couch, tried to look casual.
Failed completely.
Alex walked over and dropped next to her, eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Okay. Start talking.”
Liana hesitated. Bit her lip. “…We had dinner.”
“Obviously.”
“And we talked.”
“Groundbreaking.”
Liana glared. “Do you want to hear it or not?”
Alex held up both hands, grinning. “Sorry. Continue.”
She exhaled slowly.
“It was nice. Like, really nice. I was nervous. He was nervous. I think he tried not to show it, but his knee kept bouncing.”
“Cute.”
“And then after dinner… he held my hand.”
Alex’s mouth fell open. “Wait. Like held held?”
Liana nodded. “I didn’t even mean to reach for it. It just—happened.”
Alex clutched her chest like she’d been shot. “This is better than Netflix.”
Liana rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop smiling.
Alex leaned in. “And then?”
Liana looked down at her lap.
“At the end, he didn’t kiss me. But he leaned in. Just close enough. I said I had fun. And he said, ‘Me too.’”
Alex blinked. Then squealed. “I’m gonna die. You two are killing me.”
Liana laughed into her hands. “It didn’t feel real. But it was.”
“Girl,” Alex said, voice suddenly gentle, “this is just the beginning.”
Liana looked up. “I think I know,” she whispered.
And this time, the smile didn’t fade. Because it was already his.
Chapter 60: Closer
I fit. -Liana
Liana
He didn’t say it was a date.
But he texted me the night before:“Pick a movie. I’ll bring snacks.”
So. I picked one.
And now we were sitting on the couch, popcorn between us, the lights low, the laptop screen casting soft blue across his face.
I wasn’t watching the movie.
Not really.
Not when he was this close.
Not when our knees kept brushing, just barely.
He hadn’t moved his leg. And I hadn’t either.
So maybe it wasn’t an accident. Maybe this was happening.
I reached for the popcorn. He did too.
Our fingers touched. Neither of us pulled away.
I looked up.
He was already looking at me.
Something in his eyes. Quiet. Steady. But burning.
“Cold?” he asked softly.
I blinked. “No.”
“You’re shivering.”
I wasn’t sure if I was.
But when he lifted his arm, I moved before I could think.
Leaning. Fitting. Right there under his shoulder, against his chest.
Like I’d done this a hundred times before.
He didn’t say anything. Just pulled the blanket over us both.
And then his hand. Slow. Gentle. Careful.
Settled against my arm. Then slid down. Fingers curling lightly around mine.
I didn’t breathe. Not right away.
Then I whispered, “I like it when you hold me.”
I didn’t mean to say it out loud. But I did.
And he froze. Just for a second.
Then his grip tightened. barely. but enough.
He leaned down, close enough for his breath to tickle my cheek.
“I like holding you,” he said. “Probably too much.”
We didn’t kiss. Not yet.
But he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and said “You fit here.”
Like it was a truth he hadn’t realized until now.
And I leaned in just a little more.
Because I fit. just right.
Chapter 61: Sleep Like a Baby
I will never hurt you. Ever. -Elias
Elias
It was late.
We’d finished the movie, something she picked. quiet, slow, probably too artsy for me.
But I didn’t care. Because she’d fallen asleep on my chest.
Her hair brushed my jaw. Her breath warmed my shirt.
And I… I couldn’t move. Didn’t want to.
I’d been waiting for this for months. Wanting it. Imagining it.
And now that she was here, leaning on me like I was still the safest place in her world.
I wanted more. So much more it hurt.
My hand twitched. an ache I couldn’t shake.
I could slide my fingers through her hair. I could tilt her face up, kiss her.
I could press her closer. I could—
No.
God, no.
You don’t get to want that. Not with her.
Not when she’s this soft. This trusting.
Not when she’s asleep against me like I’m the only place she feels safe.
You don’t get to ruin that. Not even for this.
I forced myself to breathe. Deep. Even. Controlled.
My body wasn’t listening.
The ache in my chest had sunk deeper. down into muscle and bone and memory.
I clenched the water bottle in my hand without realizing. It crumpled with a sharp crunch.
She stirred.
A soft sound escaped her lips, and her brow furrowed, eyes fluttering like she might wake.
Shit.
I froze.
She always sleeps light.
My jaw was locked. My shoulders tight enough to snap.
I slowly set the bottle down and placed a hand on her back. Gentle. Soothing.
The way I had a hundred times before.
Her breathing slowed. Her body relaxed again.
I exhaled.
I hope one day she can sleep like a baby.
Not like someone waiting for the nightmare to start.
And I swear. I’ll make sure that day comes.
But the thoughts didn’t stop there. Because I knew.
I knew why this was so hard. Because I’d wanted her long before I let myself admit it.
And I’d been trying not to think about this for months, maybe years.
But tonight, holding her like this, feeling the weight of her trust against my body.
I couldn’t pretend anymore.
I wanted to touch her. To protect her. To love her.
And I couldn’t stop thinking about that night. The night I found her.
We were both shocked when the hospital said there were no signs of assault.
Those bastards hadn’t touched her. Because they were saving her.
For someone richer. Someone more powerful. Someone who paid more for virgins.
The memory still burned.
I remember the interrogation after.
One of them bragged about it. Said her “value was still intact.”
I almost broke the table in half.
I’d never felt that kind of rage. Not before. Not since.
Even now, the anger was enough to drown out the hunger.
Because I couldn’t look at her, couldn’t want her, without remembering that once upon a time, someone wanted her for all the wrong reasons.
And she survived. She’s still here.
And I’ll never be one of them.
Not even for a second.
She shifted again. A little closer.
The weight of her arm shifted as she slept.
slipping lower…until it rested just above my waistband.
My whole body went still.
Then her fingers twitched in her sleep, brushing the hem of my shirt.
Jesus.
I clenched my jaw, stared at the ceiling.
She didn’t know. She’s just sleeping.
I didn’t move. Didn’t think. Didn’t even breathe too hard.
Then I relaxed again, slowly, carefully.
I stayed. Held her a little closer.
And whispered: “You’ll be okay, baby. I’ve got you.”
I will always have you.
Even if you never know how much.
Even if I burn in silence.
Because for you…
I’d wait forever.
I’d hold on.
And I’ll never be the reason you lose sleep again.
Chapter 62: Yours Out Loud
She’s my girlfriend. -Elias
Elias
The plan was simple.
Pick her up at the gate. Bring her home. Pretend I wasn’t still replaying that night she fell asleep on my chest like a goddamn prayer I never deserved.
What I didn’t plan— Was Julien. He was already there when I pulled up.
Leaning against the fence, hands in his pockets, smile too big for this hour.
Liana stood in front of him. Not close. But close enough.
She was holding her psych folder. Nodding. Listening. That quiet, polite look on her face that most people mistook for shyness. I knew better. It was her default defense.
Julien leaned in.
I couldn’t hear what he said. Didn’t matter.
I got out of the truck. Walked across the sidewalk.
His voice hit my ears just as I reached them.
“…so I figured maybe this weekend we could meet up? Go over the reading together. Just the two of us?”
She didn’t answer. Because I was already there.
“She’s not free this weekend.”
Julien blinked. “Oh. Uh—hi. You’re…”
“Her boyfriend,” I said.
Just like that. Liana inhaled sharply beside me.
Julien looked between us. “I didn’t mean to—she didn’t say—”
“Now she doesn’t have to.” I met his eyes, steady. “Have a good day.”
He nodded awkwardly, muttered something, and walked off.
I didn’t move. Neither did she.
Just stood there, silence thick between us.
Then she turned, voice small. “You said…”
I looked at her.
“You called me your girlfriend.”
I nodded once. “I did.”
A beat passed. Then her lips curved.
Slow. Soft. And a little stunned.
“I liked hearing that.”
My chest tightened. “Yeah?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
I took the book from her.
Our fingers brushed. She didn’t pull away.
I leaned in, just enough for my voice to reach only her.
“Then let me say it again.”
Her breath hitched.
“You’re mine,” I whispered. “You’ve been mine for a long time.”
She didn’t speak. Just looked up at me with wide, warm eyes.
Then reached out, and linked our fingers together.
Right there on the sidewalk.
No fear. No hesitation.
I could’ve kissed her.
God, I wanted to. But I didn’t. Not yet.
Because this—
This was already everything.
Chapter 63: Screaming into Pillows
I am his girlfriend. -Liana
Liana
When I got home, I didn’t even take off my shoes.
I just stood there in the entryway, heart pounding like I’d run a marathon.
He said it. He actually said it.
Her boyfriend.
I’d replayed it at least thirty-seven times on the way back.
Elias’s voice, steady, sure, low enough that it made my knees soft.
The way Julien practically backed away like he’d been hit with a stun grenade.
I was his girlfriend. Out loud. In public.
He said it first.
The apartment was quiet. Alex’s shoes were gone.
She must’ve still been at the gym or on a late shift. Thank God.
I needed to process.
So naturally… I exploded.
Dropped my bag. Ran to my room. And screamed into my pillow.
Like, full-body, fists-clenched, knees-curled screaming.
It wasn’t even words.
Just this high-pitched “aaaaAAAHHH”— the kind of noise only dogs should be able to hear.
My face was on fire.
I’d never felt like this before.
My whole chest felt like it had helium in it.
I couldn’t sit still. Couldn’t stop smiling. Couldn’t breathe normally.
I sat up. Laid back down. Rolled over.
Then finally grabbed my phone and called Alex.
She picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, what’s—”
“HE SAID I’M HIS GIRLFRIEND.”
Pause.
“OH MY GOD.”
“I KNOW.”
“WHEN?!”
“Just now. Like—outside school. Julien was there and Elias just—he just said it. ‘Her boyfriend.’ Like it was nothing! Like he didn’t just set my entire nervous system on fire!”
Alex laughed so hard I thought she might fall over.
“Holy shit, finally. What did you say?”
“I—nothing! I just stared at him and then maybe squeaked.”
“Oh my God. This is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. What did he do?”
“He held my hand. Just—casually. Like it’s the most normal thing in the world.”
“It is normal. You’re dating.”
“I know! But now it’s real! And it feels so… huge.”
“You’re so down bad,” Alex teased.
“I live on the floor now,” I groaned. “I haven’t stood up emotionally in days.”
We talked for another hour. Mostly me panicking. Her laughing.
By the time I finally crawled into bed, I was exhausted.
Still grinning like an idiot, but exhausted.
I pulled the covers over my head, hugged my pillow tight, and whispered into the dark
“I’m his.”
Then my phone buzzed. A message lit up the screen.
Elias:
since i already said you’re not free this weekend…
how about a date?
I screamed again. Into the pillow. Of course.
