My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 937

Tristan was set to leave on Saturday morning, so Emily had cleared her schedule for Friday afternoon. He’d come home early from work, and the two of them spent the evening together at his place.

As midnight approached, Emily grew drowsy, her eyelids heavy with sleep.

Tristan gently tilted her chin up, his voice soft and intimate. “Emily, promise me you’ll think about me while I’m gone.”

Emily, half-asleep, gave a lazy, slow nod.

“And take care of yourself, okay?”

Another nod, equally languid.

“And keep your distance from other men. Especially Andrew Lane and Albert Rivera.”

She nodded again, barely mustering the energy.

Watching her like this, Tristan bit back a smile and pulled her into his arms, his thumb gently kneading her cheek. “I’m going to be away for a long time. Aren’t you even a little sad to see me go? You’re not even listening to me.”

Emily’s voice was muffled as he squished her cheeks, “I am listening.”

He looked down at her sleepy face and couldn’t help but laugh, softly massaging her cheek. “You’re so tired. You look so pitiful—I almost feel bad for you.”

Emily squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head, rescuing her face from his hands. “I’m exhausted,” she muttered, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.

Tristan wrapped his arm around her, his hand gliding up to the back of her head, stroking gently. He glanced down at her pale ear, leaned in close, and murmured, “Maybe you should stay the night.”

Emily’s body went tense.

Tristan watched as her fair ear flushed deep red. He reached up and brushed it lightly. “Why’s your ear so red?”

Emily pushed him away, staring at him, her eyes wide.

Her voice was muffled against his chest. “I’m not joking. I mean it.”

He stroked her hair. “I know. I believe you.”

“Then what are you hesitating for?” she asked.

Tristan’s voice dropped, gentle and sincere. “Because I’m not ready. We just started seeing each other. There’s no rush. We’ve got plenty of time. If we hurry into this, I’m afraid you might regret it later. I want it to happen naturally—when we really know each other, when you’re sure I’m the one. Okay?”

Emily wrapped her arms around him, nodding softly. “Okay.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Go on. Get some sleep.”

She slipped from his embrace, murmured an assent, and started to stand—only to notice something unusual about the way Tristan was sitting.