Chapter 70
1425 Words
CHAPTER 70
DAMIAN
Angela stayed.
She had already spent the entire day taking care of me, but somehow, watching her put her bag back down felt different.
She wasn't staying because she had to.
At least, I hoped she wasn't.
She walked back into the living room and sat beside me this time instead of taking the other end of the sofa.
I glanced at her.
She picked up the remote.
“What are you watching?”
“I don't know.”
“You're holding the remote.”
“That doesn't mean I know what's on.”
I laughed.
She changed the channel.
Then another.
Then another.
“You're terrible at this.”
“At what?”
“Choosing something.”
“You're welcome to choose.”
“I’m sick.”
“You're better now.”
I looked at her.
“So you've been monitoring me?”
“I've been taking care of you.”
“Same thing.”
She ignored me and settled back against the sofa.
A few minutes later, I shifted closer.
She didn't move away.
I put my arm around her shoulders.
She glanced at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're looking at me.”
“I’m allowed to look at my girlfriend.”
She rolled her eyes lightly and returned her attention to the television.
I pulled her a little closer.
She rested against me without protest.
That small thing made me smile.
For the next hour, we watched television like that.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing important.
Just her beside me, her head occasionally resting against my shoulder, my arm around her.
Every now and then, I'd look down at her.
She would notice.
“Stop looking at me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Maybe I like looking at you.”
She said nothing.
But I caught the faintest smile on her lips.
I didn't mention it.
---
Later that night, Angela stood up.
“I'll make you something to eat.”
I frowned.
“You're cooking again?”
“Yes.”
“Should I be worried?”
She gave me a look.
“You survived lunch.”
“Barely.”
“I can hear you.”
“I know.”
She disappeared into the kitchen.
I heard cabinets opening.
Then closing.
Then the sound of something being dropped.
“Angela?”
“I'm fine.”
I smiled.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
A few minutes later, she came back holding a plate.
She placed it in front of me.
“Eat.”
I looked at the food.
Then at her.
“You cooked this?”
“Yes.”
“You're improving.”
“Eat before I change my mind.”
I picked up the fork.
“It actually looks better.”
“Damian.”
I laughed and started eating.
It wasn't bad.
Actually, it was good.
I looked at her.
“This is good.”
“I know you're lying.”
“I'm not.”
“You don't have to lie to make me feel better.”
“I'm serious.”
She watched me take another bite.
“Fine.”
She sat across from me.
I finished everything.
Afterward, she helped clean up before returning to the living room.
By then, I felt almost completely normal.
Angela checked my forehead with the back of her hand.
“You're not hot anymore.”
“I told you I was fine.”
“You were sick this morning.”
“And now I'm not.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
I smiled.
“So…”
She looked at me.
“Since you've spent the entire day taking care of me, you should stay in my room tonight.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“Your room?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
I smiled.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“No.”
“Good.”
I stepped closer.
“Because I can't eat you.”
She stared at me.
“Damian.”
“I’m serious.”
“You're sick.”
“I was sick.”
“You had a fever this morning.”
“And now I'm fine.”
She shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
“Maybe.”
I lowered my voice.
“And even if I wanted to eat you…”
I paused.
“I wouldn't.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Even though I want to.”
She looked at me for a second.
Then she shook her head again.
“You really don't know when to stop.”
“Not when it comes to you.”
She was quiet.
I didn't push.
After a moment, she looked toward the hallway.
“Fine.”
I smiled.
“Fine?”
“I'll stay.”
---
Later that night, we were both in my bedroom.
Angela stood near the bed, looking around.
“So this is your room,” she said.
I smiled.
“You've never been here.”
“No.”
“You've been in my house countless times.”
“Yes.”
“You've sat in my office.”
“Yes.”
“You've fallen asleep on my sofa.”
“I was tired.”
“And somehow you've never seen my bedroom.”
“I didn't need to.”
I smiled.
“Fair.”
She got into bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
I followed.
There was space between us.
Enough space to make it clear that neither of us was crossing any line.
I turned onto my side.
“Angela?”
“Yes?”
“Can I hold you?”
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she turned toward me.
“Okay.”
I moved closer and wrapped my arm around her waist.
She didn't resist.
She simply settled against me.
For a while, neither of us said anything.
Then I spoke.
“Now I feel more like your boyfriend.”
She looked up at me.
“How?”
I smiled.
“We've been dating for more than a year.”
“I know.”
“And we've never slept in the same room.”
She was quiet.
“I don't even know what your room looks like.”
She gave me a small smile.
“I'm not complaining.”
“I know.”
“But you get what I mean.”
“I do.”
I looked at her for a moment.
“I just want to feel like I'm actually your boyfriend sometimes.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“I know.”
She looked down.
“There's something I should have told you.”
“What?”
“I don't really feel like we should do certain things.”
I stayed quiet.
She continued.
“I'm traditional to an extent.”
I nodded.
“I want things that are meant to happen in marriage to stay in marriage.”
Her voice remained calm.
She wasn't embarrassed.
She wasn't apologizing.
She was simply telling me where she stood.
“My bad for not telling you earlier.”
I looked at her.
“You don't have to apologize.”
“I should have said it before.”
“Maybe.”
She looked at me.
“But I'm glad you're telling me now.”
I tightened my arm around her slightly.
“I’m not going to pressure you.”
“I know.”
“And I'm not angry.”
“I know that too.”
I smiled.
“Besides, you're already lying in my bed.”
She gave me a look.
“Don't ruin the moment.”
I laughed quietly.
“Okay.”
Silence returned.
Her head rested against my chest.
I looked down at her.
“So this is your boundary?”
“Yes.”
“And you want me to respect it?”
“Yes.”
“I will.”
She looked up at me.
“You're not upset?”
“No.”
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
“I want you.”
She went still.
“But wanting you doesn't mean I get to decide what you're ready for.”
She held my gaze.
“And when the time comes?”
Her lips curved slightly.
“When the time comes.”
I smiled.
“Fair enough.”
She rested her head against me again.
I held her quietly.
For the first time, I understood that getting closer to Angela wasn't about convincing her to give me everything.
It was about earning every step she willingly took toward me.
And tonight, she had given me one.
She had stayed.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD