Offsides - A Forbidden Summer novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Katie's POV: Nine Hours

Katie's POV

I woke up at six in my old bed with a plan, and with no patience at all.

The final was at three.

I'd told him to ask me after, but I couldn't carry the answer around all day.

I went down the back stairs in bare feet.

Devin was in the kitchen in his jeans, making toast he wasn't eating, with the dog leaning on his shin.

He looked as if he hadn't slept.

"Don't ask me yet," I said.

"I didn't."

"Good, because I'm telling you anyway."

I took the toast out of his hand and put it down.

"I looked it up last night. Chicago is three hours and forty minutes from this kitchen, with no traffic."

"That's a lot of..."

"I timed it from your driveway on the map. I did it twice, because I thought I'd made a mistake." I took a breath. "I'm taking the job. I'm not giving it up, and I don't want you to give anything up either."

His face stayed still.

"That's not the answer I'm worried about," he said quietly.

"I know. This is the answer." I put my hands flat on his chest. "I'm keeping the room upstairs. I'm coming home the first weekend of every month, and you can drive up the other ones, and in June we sit down and decide what comes next like two adults who can read a map."

"Katie."

"I'm not amusing myself. I never was. I picked your lap that first Sunday because I wanted to, and I'd choose it again in a year."

He stared at me.

His shoulders dropped, heavy and slow.

"I thought you'd go," he said. "I thought I'd get a summer, and then I'd be standing in this house with the lights on and the dog, and I'd be glad I'd had it."

← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend