Page 35 of Mr. Green

“You don’t need to stay, Grant,” Lana explains through deep breaths as I hold her in my arms in the backseat of the town car.

“I want to.”

“Why?”

“I can see you, Sunshine.” I kiss the top of her head. “You’re not alone.”

A tear slips from her face onto my hand holding her shoulder. It’s hard to see her like this, but I have a feeling it’s what she has been needing.

My decisions for what happens next need to be wise. If I pursue her, I don’t want to be her rebound. Ican’tbe her rebound. I also can’t have her friend zone me. I can’t watch her from a distance, acting like we aren’t attracted to each other.

She’s leaning into me. I know she’s attracted to me. She’s just so stuck in her head, she’s having a hard time seeing me.

I have to play out what happens next very carefully.

If I don’t, I’ll lose her.

Lana

He sees me.

His words tremble through my body and replay over and over again in my mind. He can see me. I thought he was messing with me, saying that stupid nickname. Now I never want him to stop calling me Sunshine. I want to change my name to Sunshine. I like it so much that I want to go outside and twirl around with my arms out, yelling, “I’m freaking Sunshine!”

I wasn’t supposed to fall for another guy. They’re horrible. They leave you. They don’t care about you.

Except...

I’m already drawn to Grant. He’s the first guy I’ve considered in years. He knows I’m not this ominous, dark person. He knows I can be happy and joyful. He’s seen me when I was happy and excited for life. He’s showing me I can be happy and joyful again.

I don’t have to stay in this humiliating darkness. I was finding that out myself, but it’s like he has given me the extra push I needed.

Thank goodness he was there tonight. I don’t want him to leave my side. However, being the needy girlfriend has worked for absolutely no one. So, there’s that.

I’m going to need to keep my boundaries. Even though I want to jump on him and feel what it’s like to be connected with an actual person again instead of a toy, but I need to keep my cool.

He’s seen enough of my tears. That can’t be attractive.

Grant

I’m going to take her to her place and kiss her. I don’t want her to think of me as some drunk hookup. I want her to want to be with me. I think she’s been fighting her feelings for me and it seems like that might be changing. Regardless, tonight is not the night to go all the way with Lana.

I don’t want her feeling pity for herself and then hooking up with me out of obligation. I want our passion to be off the charts. I want to take her on a proper date, not just lunch. I want her in a better head space. I think her mind is still on her ex and it’s going to take some time to get her mind on me.

“Thank you. For the drive and for the hug,” she says on the curb outside of the hotel.

“I’m walking you up to your room.”

“It’s okay, I can manage.”

“I’m walking you up,” I reiterate. Then I put my arm around her lower back and walk us inside, pushing the elevator button.

She rolls her eyes with a huff. I don’t give a fuck. I want to make sure she gets back safely.

I can kiss her good night, I remind myself. I want more than that; I’ve been drawn to her for weeks now, but I’m not a dick. I’m stopping at a kiss. It takes me out of the friend zone, but doesn’t put me in the rebound category. I’m here for the long haul.

I will make Lana mine—eventually.

Lana