Page 54 of Chalk Outline

Smoke rolls past my lips, encircling the mask. If she could see my face, she would’ve punched it and used her ninja moves to bolt me to the floor. She pretends to be fine, but she’s still grieving.

The man who stands before her.

I knock on Romina’s office door. She requested me specifically. Anxiety climbs up my body, crippling my shoulders and pressing down my throat.

“Step in, Reeve.” She waves at me, finishing up her lunch. When my shadow falls over her, she clears her throat but remains silent.

I swallow thickly.

“You know.”

I already know she does.

She tilts her chin up, peering up at me. “Know what?”

“About Winona and me.”

I was aware of the consequences when I gave in that night, but it’s only been two months, and she’s already found out.

We haven’t done much besides talking, kissing, and riding my bike. I started giving her riding lessons that she calls dates. I read every book she buys after she finishes them—her taste may be questionable, but I often find it therapeutic and a source of extra creativity once we hit the sheets. But I don’t want to rush this. I’m not going anywhere. I want to earn her trust. I want her to feel comfortable with me. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll wait.

Unlike the first time we met, Romina looks at me with confidence and respect.

“I had my suspicions,” she clarifies.

“I didn’t plan for this to happen—”

“That’s a classic answer,” she cut me off. “But it did, and now we must face the consequences.”

Hearing those words fills me with dread. “Don’t take me away from her. No one will protect her the way I do. I would never hurt her. I’ll be good to her. Always. Please.” The panic in my voice gnaws at my insides and pierces my ears. I hate to beg, especially for what I have earned.

I don’t want to forget her voice or the way her expression changes when a smile meets her eyes. I don’t want anyone else to have it; to hold the privilege of owning it.

“I know.”

With each passing second, I’m losing my damn mind.

I don’t know what to do.

“But,” she pauses, “I must stay true to my rules.”

No… I fucking hate those words.

Rules and contracts—that’s all I’ve ever known since I met Romina.

My chest tightens, and the pain is unbearable. Is this how people feel when they get a heart attack?

“I love her,” I confess. I waited five years to meet Winona again—she doesn’t even know it—because I wanted a friend, and then three years for her to choose me.

I would have waited longer if I needed to.

“We have to talk about a plan.” Romina carries on like nothing. “I have something to share with you.”

I look away, clenching my fists at my sides.

She upholds strict standards in all aspects. She oversees multiple teams operating globally. However, she is unwavering when it comes to her home, where her granddaughter lives. Winona’s safety is paramount; it takes precedence over everyone else’s, including her own.

If I want to be with Winona, I have to persuade Romina that I’m worth being by her side. She knows that I am. Why can’t she give us a chance to prove that we’re right for each other? No matter how in love I am, I will never let my guard down.