As soon as I saw his handsome face I couldn’t help but throw myself at him. I tucked my body against his strong chest and reveled at the feeling of his arms wrapped around me. It had been so long since I’d been held like this. Years maybe, and I felt completely starved of touch and affection.  

The short phone call I shared with my father the night before left me overly emotional and terrified. I was doing so well, refusing to think of him or the rest of my family while restarting my life, but all of my progress had been obliterated in minutes from just hearing his voice. I was afraid he would find me and drag me back to California, to my life of loneliness and ridicule, far away from the freedom and contentment I found since I’d been here.

I didn’t care that I was supposed to be keeping things professional with Dex, I didn’t care that I didn’t want him, or anyone else, to see me in such a vulnerable state.

I needed him.

I needed him to wrap his arms around me and tell me everything would be alright, and I needed to believe it. Even if only for a few seconds.

Before I knew it, I had dissolved into another round of sobs, my hands bunching up in the back of his soft t-shirt. Holding onto him for dear life.

Dex brought one of his strong hands up to the back of my head, stroking through my hair. He let me get out my sadness and frustration without any comment or judgment, and soon enough, his presence was enough to calm me down.

I looked up at him bashfully, feeling extremely embarrassed. “Sorry for crying all over you.”

He sighed. “You don’t need to apologize for crying, Rosie.”

“Still…” I couldn’t help but try to justify my actions. “You didn’t need to come all the way over here just to have me ruin your shirt. I’m sure you were busy.”

“I’m never too busy to let you into my arms, sweetheart.” His smirk was back in full effect, but I knew his words were serious.

I wasn’t sure what to say or do next, but I knew Dex changed things by coming to my house to comfort me. Just as I changed things by letting him see me in such an emotionally charged state. There was no reason to kick him out now.

“Do you want to stay for a drink or something?”

He didn’t say anything, but he gently pushed me aside, making his way further into my little apartment and settling on the couch.

Clad in only a soft gray t-shirt and a pair of jeans, Dex and his colorful tattoos stood out against the backdrop of my plain blue couch. He leaned back, relaxing into the couch, looking at me with heavy eyes.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any whiskey in that kitchen of yours, would you?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No but I have a highly esteemed bottle of five dollar supermarket white wine and a few room temperature bottles of water. Take your pick.”

“Please tell me you at least have ice…”

Instead of replying, I quickly shuffled into the kitchen, extremely happy to have a few seconds to compose myself. I splashed a little bit of tap water onto my face and pinched my cheeks a bit, hoping like hell that I didn’t look as horrible as I felt.

I sat as far away from Dex as I could on the small couch when I returned with a glass of ice and his bottled water. Secretly hoping to keep some space between us for the intense conversation I was sure we were about to have.

Dex poured and took a healthy sip of his water before turning to look at me. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about or do I have to start guessing?”

As much as I had come to trust him in the short time that I knew him, there was no way I was going to tell him my life story. It was too long, too depressing, and too exhausting to even get into.

“I’m just really stressed out, Dex.” I lied through my teeth, hoping like hell that he wouldn’t notice. “Between the move and the new job, everything is a bit too much right now.”

He took his full bottom lip into his mouth, biting down on it as he always did when he was deep in thought. “How about you take a couple days off work. No files, no phone calls, just take some time to enjoy yourself.”

A part of me wanted to turn him down, I did desperately need the money, but I needed the time off way more.

I nodded. “That actually sounds really nice, thanks, Dex.”

Dex reached out towards me, gently coaxing me to move closer to him on the couch before wrapping a strong arm around my shoulders, causing me to unconsciously lean my head against him.

“How about you come home with me. You can stay in my guest room and enjoy the pool…” he prompted, his voice more soothing than I had ever heard it. “My place is right on the beach. Tons of sunlight.”

“Dex, that’s-”

“Just think about it, Rosie. You don’t need to stay cooped up in this dark apartment.”

“I don’t know…”

He looked down at me, his beautiful eyes soft and imploring. “Say yes, sweetheart, come home with me.”

I could do nothing but nod in agreement.

Dex jumped up off of the couch, the grin on his face bright enough to rival the Miami skyline.

“Let’s go pack your bags.” He started for my bedroom.

“Uh-uh, nope.” I stood in front of him, placing my hands on his chest, pushing him backwards. “You’ve done enough, just give me a few minutes to get some things together and we’ll go.”

“Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit!” He paused. “On second thought, maybe you should throw all your old ones away!”

I rolled my eyes in fake annoyance.

* * *

As I packed my overnight bag behind the closed door of my tiny bedroom, I couldn’t help but question my actions. Going home with Dex was reckless. He was my boss, my only source of normalcy, and one of the only things resembling a friend I had made in Miami. While his description of my stay was completely innocent, there was no doubt in my mind that the man had other, much less pure, activities on his mind when he invited me.

Maybe I needed a little recklessness in my life; maybe it was time to embrace my feelings and try new, dangerous things. Wasn’t that why I had come here in the first place? To say goodbye to the old Rosaline and find out who I really was without my father’s pressure or expectations?

It was time for me to be brave, even if it meant losing my job. Even if it meant losing Dex in the end.

I wanted him and I was tired of denying it.