She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 205

(Gloria)

I hang up the phone on a long exhale.

A minute ago I would have told anyone who asked that I had no idea whether I'd say yes if he calls.

Then I said yes without giving it too much thought and I have to admit I was just being precious about it.

I'm in sweatpants and a sports bra, hair in the bun I twist when I'm working, makeup eaten off by a fourteen-hour day.

I look like a woman who didn't expect company.

I have about twelve minutes.

I very briefly consider jumping in the shower, or at least fixing my make-up, before deciding fuck it.

If he wants me he can have me in the bun. I’m not bending over backwards for anyone anymore.

When I open the door it’s immediately obvious that he’s been pushing his hand through his hair repeatedly.

Is adorably mussed.

His eyes go over me and I see him decide to say nothing, which is the correct decision.

"Hi."

"Hi."

I step back. He closes the door himself.

Doesn't sit.

Stands in the middle of my living room with his hands in his coat pockets.

I'm not helping him. He’s the one who asked to come over.

"I want to ask you one thing. Then I'm going to shut up and do what you tell me."

Ooh. I like the sound of this game.

"Okay."

"What do you need from me?"

I look at him for a long while. I know the answer, and I’m about to be honest with him.

It scares the hell out of me.

I sit on the arm of the couch.

My legs have made a decision my brain hasn’t authorized.

The honest answer is so embarrassing I almost lie. I stop myself just in time.

If we are ever going to have a chance, now is the time to put all my cards on the table.

"I need to know you'll pick me. Not on the big days. I don’t expect you to shove everyone else out of your life. But on the normal days, when it’s not an emergency. I need you to pick me without even thinking about it."

"I can do that."

"I'm not finished."

"Sorry."

"I need you to stop apologizing for the night Piper called. We've done the post-mortem and I forgave you. I get why you went.”

He flinches at the mention of her name.

“And I’m tired of you flinching every time I mention her name. Yes, we slept together once. It didn’t mean nothing. It happened before I even met you. If she’d been honest with me back then, who knows where I’d be right now."

He doesn’t look happy about that one.

“She wasn’t. And I’m here, picking you.”

He looks like he’s about to say something so I plunge ahead.

"And..."

I take a deep breath. The third one I haven't admitted out loud even to myself.

"I need you to want me. The way you wanted me when we first met. I don’t want to be your good decision, Nathanial. I don’t want to be your duty to do the right thing. I want you to desire me."

He goes very still.

"Gloria." His voice is barely above a whisper.

"I’ve been respecting your boundaries. You could never be a duty. I want you so much it keeps me up at night."

"Prove it."

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