89. Rosalyn

EIGHTY-NINE

ROSALYN

"We're… what?" I stare into his eyes, sure I heard him wrong.

"We're dating. This isn't a fling. It isn't casual. You're my girlfriend."

My mouth opens. Then closes. "You want to date?"

He shakes his head. "Don't want. We are. And we're going steady."

"But you?—"

"Swear to god if you say something about obligation or me being famous, I'm going to lose it." He takes a slow breath. "Tell me you understand."

I shake my head the smallest bit. "No one says going steady anymore."

The side of his mouth lifts. Just a little.

Then it drops.

He brushes his thumb over my cheek again. "I want to kiss you."

"You can." I rest my hands on his forearms. "I might be a little banged up, but I'm not broken."

I refuse to be broken.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispers.

I lean forward. "You're not. "

"Tell me you'll stay." Nathan moves closer, leaving only inches between us.

"I'll stay," I tell him. Even if it's just for a few days.

His fingers flex, like he knows what I'm thinking. "For the three weeks you're on crutches."

"Nathan," I sigh.

"Rosie."

"Three weeks is a long time," I try to tell him.

"It's a blink," he replies. "Now agree you'll stay."

It's ridiculous, and…

"You really want to date?"

Nathan groans. "Pretty Rosie, I know you're a clever girl. And I know you heard me the first time."

"Isn't it weird to have your girlfriend of like, what, a week, live with you?"

He shakes his head. "First, you and I go way back. You're not just some girlfriend . And second, the beginning of a relationship is always the most sex-filled." My brows lift. "I know I need to give you some time before I fuck you into the mattress again." He slides one of his hands down from my cheek to palm the side of my neck. "But as soon as you're ready, I'll be making use of the fact that we're under the same roof. And in the same bed."

I roll my eyes, like my body isn't thrumming at the idea. "Do you promise not to barge in when I'm on the toilet?"

He nods solemnly. "Unless you scream my name again."

I give him a flat look. "Sorry, I hadn't assumed it was the cat opening the door."

"Never underestimate the cat."

I roll my lips together and take in the man before me.

He's so handsome.

And has such a mouth on him.

He's kind and generous and a good cat dad.

And he's practically begging me to be with him.

A part of me knows that we can never be. Not forever. My baggage is too heavy.

But I can have him for now .

I can have him for at least three weeks.

"Okay." I nod against his hold on me.

"Okay?" His eyes search mine.

"Okay, I'll stay. Okay, I'll be your girlfriend." My mouth pulls into a smile at the look on his face. I tip my chin up. "And I believe you said you'd kiss me."

Nathan grins. "That's my girl." Then his lips are on mine.

They're warm, and he presses them firmly against my own.

My body relaxes, and muscles I didn't realize were tense release.

I lean into the kiss.

But Nathan pulls away.

"Eat your food."

I blink my eyes open. "You're a tease."

He snorts, then reaches down to adjust himself. "I am not without punishment."

I bite down on my laugh, knowing it will only make my head hurt more.

Nathan braces his hands on either side of me. "I'll grab your painkillers, but you gotta eat something."

I look over at the bowl of cereal, taking in the little shapes floating in some sort of milk. "Marshmallows?"

"They're no Rosalyn's Restaurant's. But they help feed my newly rediscovered marshmallow obsession." He holds my gaze. "Because it seems I've become obsessed."

My eyes stay on him as he stands and strides away.

Because I've become a little obsessed too.