His words broke something in her. Tears glistened her eyes again and she buried her face in his neck, trembling as they escaped her eyes. How was it that those simple words cracked her so badly? She had no idea how much she longed to hear those words until she heard them–from Sterling's lips. The very lips that kissed her on the forehead. The very lips that continuously touched her head but never her mouth, the very place she wanted him to kiss but too afraid to. She wasn't ready for that step. She wasn't going to damn him with that, either.
"Thank you…" she whispered earnestly, her voice breaking. "Thank you, Sterling…"
“You should lay down. Or at least sit on the couch with me,” Sterling whispered, running his fingers through her hair. “You need to rest. And maybe a glass of water, too…”
“Can I—couch—“ she cut herself off, leaning into his touch like a starved, neglected animal. “No water. Don’t feel like it.”
“Okay. Then we can go to the couch. And no water,” Sterling agreed softly. “Do you want to walk, or… I could carry you…”
He was acting like such a gentleman, being so soft, gentle and patient.
Like a boyfriend. The word squeezed her heart.
“I can walk,” she replied quietly, though she just wanted to stay pressed against him.
Sterling nodded and stepped to her side, keeping an arm around her. “Okay. I’ll walk you over, then.”
Eden gripped his shirt tightly, nodding slowly as he walked her over to the couch. The second they sat down, she curled up against him, her face buried in his chest.
Sterling pulled her up against him, holding her tightly. “You should see if you can sleep again. I’ll be right here for you, okay?”
Eden’s heartbeat quickened. “No—“ she shook her head furiously, trembling in his hold. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to,” Sterling whispered, tightening his arms around her as his hand found her hair. He let his fingers run through it as he held her. “Just rest, then. You don’t even have to close your eyes.”
Eden leaned into his touch, a harsh breath escaping her lips. She pressed herself harder against him when he tightened his hold on her, feeling a little protected. Well, too protected. Eden let her head rest on his chest, too afraid of closing her eyes again.
“Talk to me,” she whispered, fingers gripping his shirt.
“What do you want me to talk about? I’m not really very interesting… Except for my past, but I’d rather not talk about that right now,” Sterling sighed, massaging her scalp. “My parents are both in pretty influential positions. My dad is a really good lawyer. I actually want to be one, and that’s what I’m going to go to college for after I graduate.”
Eden sighed in content as he massaged her scalp, keeping her eyes open though they threatened to close again. "A lawyer, huh? Do you have a specific college in mind?"
“Stanford University in California,” Sterling answered quietly. “It’s pretty far away, but… it’s also one of the few states I haven’t been to.”
“Well, good luck,” Eden murmured, the sense of protection she was feeling urging her to close her eyes. She listened, her eyes shutting. “Which type of a lawyer are you going for?”
“Just a general practice lawyer. That way I can help almost anyone with anything,” Sterling replied with a shrug. “What about you? What do you want to do?”
Eden shrugged. “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I wanted to be a vet like my mother. Now I’m not so sure anymore.”
“You’re not sure? How come?” Sterling murmured, rubbing circles onto her back.
“I’m not cut out for it,” she answered quietly, a shiver escaping her because of his touches. “It was a silly dream. I’m better off inheriting my father’s business.”
Sterling blinked and looked down at her, tentatively cupping her cheek in his hand. “What makes you think you aren’t cut out for it? I’m sure you would do great. You like animals, right?”
As if desperate for his touch, Eden leaned into it the second he placed his hand on her cheek.
“I do,” Eden responded, not looking up at him. She kept her eyes closed, taking in the warmth on her cheek. “I’m just not… I hurt, Sterling. I don’t heal.”
“People can change, Eden. You could heal. You want to be a vet, don’t you? You shouldn’t give up on your dreams just because you don’t believe in yourself,” Sterling murmured softly, his thumb pressing gentle circles into her cheeks.
Fireworks exploded in her stomach when he began to rub circles in her skin. God, why was he so good at making her feel better?
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I tried to get better. I couldn’t, so I embraced who I became.”
“Well, Eden, you can still help others. You can at least help their pets, if not the people themselves,” Sterling said, hugging her close again. He buried his face in her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Should we watch another movie?”
Everywhere they touched, it sent sparks flying. Her skin burned, especially when he kissed the top of her head again. Gathering her courage, she lifted her head and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. She settled back in his chest again.
“Sounds good,” she murmured. “Just… don’t let go.”
