Page 62 of Blitz

“Are we ever going to talk about it?”

She turns her head away. “Talk about what?”

“Whatever is bothering you.”

“I’m fine.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, so already we’re at the avoidance stage. That’s brilliant, Mason.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means talk to me. Tell me what got you upset. Was it something I did?” My finger on her chin tips her head back, so I can look her in the eye. “Are you not having a good time?”

“I’m enjoying myself.”

“Yeah, and that’s why you’re wound so tight, you can hardly look at me.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

“So let me share some of the load.” I have to fight back the urge to kiss her. It won’t make the situation any better. “We’re supposed to be in this together.”

She snorts. “What’s this?”

“A relationship? Life?” I honestly don’t know how to answer her. “If we’re supposed to be a couple, that means—”

“Maybe we shouldn’t,” she blurts. Her eyes go wide and she covers her mouth. “I didn’t mean that.”

My blood runs cold. Or maybe that’s the lack of hot water. “Yeah, you did. You wouldn’t have said it otherwise.”

She’s been telling me all along that she wants this. She’s the one who pursued me. And now?

“I’m just stressed,” she says.

“Mase—”

“It’s been a long day.”

There’s a lump in my throat I can’t clear. “If you don’t want to do this…”

“Do what?”

“Us. If you don’t want to be together—”

“I do. I do,” she says. She reaches for me, wrapping her arms low around my waist. “My head is just a mess right now. I want to be with you.”

“Except you don’t.”

“Maybe we should revisit that month of celibacy thing.” She chews her lip. “I thought I was okay. I thought I was ready. But maybe we’re taking this too fast. We weren’t even talking a week ago. This is all—it’s all so fast.”

I run my thumb over her cheek. “Whatever you need, babe. I just want to be with you. Whatever you’ll allow, all I want is you.”

As much as I’m not looking forward to a month or more abstaining, I know I can handle it. I’ve handled the situation for the last two and a half years. A month or so until she gets comfortable with me again? With us? That’s a sacrifice I’m more than willing to make.

I pour some soap into my hand and run it over her shoulders. She bites her lip and stares up at me guilelessly.

“I love you, Tucker,” she says, like she has to convince herself. “I want to be with you.”

“You have me, baby. Take what you need. I’m yours.”