Tiger Teeth - Terms & Conditions // Book Two

Chapter 9

Chroi was waiting on the bed when I returned with our room service order. She looked happy, her cheeks rosy with excitement. The beauty radiating off of her was intoxicating, I couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Breakfast." I announced as I set down the tray on the bed.

She leaned over to kiss me, sending my heart pounding into my ears. I smiled,

"I know ya like fruit...I ordered all they had."

I sat down on the bed, watching with delight as she happily munched away on all the fruit on the plate. She popped a grape in her mouth just as she attempted to speak. Her words, due to a mouth far too full of fruit, ended up muffled and garbled.

I burst out laughing,

"What?"

She couldn't help but laugh as well while she chewed. She swallowed,

"You know me well."

I reached over to push some of her hair behind her ear,

"I like to think so." My smile faded as I looked down while she continued to eat. I cleared my throat, "So uh..." I looked up at her.

I was afraid to approach the subject with her but I also knew we needed to talk about it. Ignoring her stage fright wasn't helping her.

I took her hand in mine,

"Ya once said ya felt safe with me." I lifted my eyes to reluctantly meet hers. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer or not, "That still true?"

She hesitated and I felt my heart crack in my chest. She averted her eyes down to her hand in mine, a slight shrug of her shoulders before she spoke,

"I mean..." When her eyes met mine again her face relaxed into disappointment and I knew the answer without her having to say the word.

I nodded,

"Alright..."

I couldn't let her disappointment derail this for us. It was natural she'd be unsure of me now after what I'd put her through. I shrugged off the setback and set my shoulders.

"Well then I'm gonna start fixin' that." My eyes met hers again, "The stage fright..."
When she tried to pull her hand away I tightened my grip,

"Angel..." I whispered.

She shook her head,

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"C'mon..." I said after a moment, "Chroi it's nothin' t'be ashamed of. We've all been through it."
She stood up, her foot getting caught up in the sheet for a moment. She quickly untangled it,

"Niall, I don't wanna discuss this."

I stood up to follow her to the other side of the room,

"I know." I stopped a few feet away from her, "I know ya don't. I know you're embarrassed." I reached forward to turn her around to face me though she kept her eyes down, "Baby you are the strongest person I know-"

She scoffed, her eyes rolling prominently before she looked down again.

I blinked,

"Ya think I'm lyin'?"

She took her hand from mine, sidestepping me as she folded her arms over her stomach. She turned to face me,

"Can we talk about something else?"

I didn't want to let this go but it was clear she was highly uncomfortable and though we weren't awkward around each other, I was still unsure how much she'd forgiven me. I nodded,