Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 20~

~Raelyn~

~February 21st 2022~

Okay, in my defense, I wasn't trying to fall in love with the emotionally constipated, brooding Kansas boy who called me "Rae" like it was a full-on love language. I wasn't. It just... happened. Slowly. In between the orgasms and him bringing me Tylenol after the orgasms.

And in his defense, Colby did try to keep things casual. Like, painfully casual. He'd text "u up?" with the conviction of a man auditioning to be a human cardboard box. But then he'd cuddle me like I was the last teddy bear on Earth and mutter something like, "You smell like home," before kissing my forehead.

Sir. That is not fuck buddy behavior. That is boyfriend in denial behavior.

So here we are. Me, sitting on his stupid bed, wearing his stupid hoodie, hair still damp from the stupid shower we took after the very not casual hookup we just had—because what kind of friends with benefits slow dance naked in the shower to SZA?

I leaned back against his headboard, pulling the hoodie sleeves over my hands like a child. "You good?"

Colby was pacing. Which was new. Usually, post-sex Colby was either passed out or asking if I wanted Uber Eats. But now? He was muttering to himself and cracking his knuckles like he was about to go to war.

"Did I break you?" I asked, eyes narrowing. "Is this like post-nut enlightenment or something?"

He stopped mid-pace and shot me a look. "Don't say post-nut enlightenment."

"Why?" I grinned. "Afraid of your spiritual journey?"

"Rae." His voice dropped, all gruff and tense. "I need to ask you something."

Oh, God. My brain launched into full panic. Was I pregnant? Did he clog the shower? Did I accidentally say I love you out loud again?

I blinked at him. "Okay... are we about to fight or are you about to propose? Because your face is saying both."

"I'm not proposing," he grumbled, running a hand through his messy hair. "I'm not that insane."

"Yet," I added. "Give it a few months. Or years..."

Colby huffed and sat down beside me, grabbing a pillow and promptly punching it like it had personally offended him. "I'm just gonna say it."

"Colby, if this is about the missing pizza rolls, I already confessed to Blake. You're barking up the wrong criminal."

He turned toward me, brown eyes dead serious. "Rae, do you... do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

And I—being the composed, emotionally mature woman I am—snorted. Loud.

He looked personally victimized. "Was that a no?"

"No!" I laughed, throwing a pillow at him. "That's a yes. An immediate, dramatic yes. I just thought you'd never actually ask."

His jaw dropped. "That was so easy."

I leaned forward and kissed him, slow and sweet, smiling against his lips. "Not gonna lie," I murmured, "I thought you'd never ask."

"I was waiting for the right time," he said, all proud like he hadn't just stress-paced his way into a confession.

"Mhm," I said, eyeing him with a smirk. "I'm sure you were."

"No, seriously," he insisted. "I had a plan. There was gonna be a picnic. Fireflies. Maybe a guitar solo."

"You don't play guitar."