Chapter 179 Out of the way

Chapter 179 Out of the way
Talia is definitely upset with me.
When I called her earlier to tell her I wouldn't be flying out to Texas today, she sounded utterly crushed. I did my best to soften the blow....I texted her right after, promising that she could come stay with me for the entire duration of her upcoming school break, which is only a few weeks away. She hasn't replied to the message, but at least she didn't send back another angry text telling me to leave her alone. Small victories, I guess.
I stand in front of my full-length mirror, putting the finishing touches on my outfit for my date with Bastian tonight. I have no idea where he's taking me, but it’s probably somewhere absurdly fancy. I went with the best balance I could manage, dark denim, a fitted knit sweater, and a tailored black leather jacket. Josie gave me an explicit, nod of approval on her way past my room, which is basically the gold standard of fashion endorsement in this house.
I tuck my hands into my jacket pockets and sit on the edge of my bed. I’d offered to drive myself tonight, but Bastian instantly shut that down and insisted on picking me up. Over the last couple of days, I’ve been actively trying to dismantle my irrational fear of being seen with him in public. I’ve overanalyzed it to death, and honestly, it’s not fair to him. If we’re doing this, if we’re actually in a real relationship, I can’t keep hiding him in the dark like he’s some dirty secret.
The real stress, though, is figuring out what I’m going to ask him tonight.
Picking the right entry point into Bastian’s fortified personal history is terrifying. There's so much I’m dying to know, but I keep picturing myself asking the wrong question and watching him instantly shut down, locking his vault doors right in my face.
I really don't want that to happen.
My phone buzzes in my palm. I stand up, knowing it’s him before I even check the screen. Sure enough, “Outside.”
I grab my keys, step out into the hallway, and head toward the living room. Josie and Dante are already deeply entrenched on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket with their eyes glued to the TV, where some high-stakes psychological thriller is playing.
"Is he not going to come in and say hi?" Josie asks without taking her eyes off the screen.
"I know you just want to mess with him," I reply, walking past the coffee table.
She lets out a dramatic scoff. "Coward...Stay safe, okay? Call us if something happens."
I pause, arching an eyebrow back at her. "Something like what?"
"Who knows?" she shrugs, adjusting her blanket. "There’s literally always something happening with you two."
"Nothing's going to happen," I say, rolling my eyes. "My boyfriend's just taking me out to dinner."
Dante slightly lifts his head from the top of the pillow. "'My boyfriend's taking me out to dinner,'" he repeats in a high-pitched, exaggerated, mocking whine.
"Oh, look at me," Josie chimes in, matching Dante's ridiculous tone without missing a beat. "I'm Kaden, I have a brooding, rich boyfriend waiting outside to take me to eat gold flakes."
I shake my head, biting the inside of my cheek to fight off a smile. "Fuck off, both of you," I say, opening the front door.
"Love you too!" Josie shouts after me.
I pull the door shut behind me. The cool evening air hits my face as I walk down the front steps. Bastian’s car is idling smoothly right by the curb, and standing straight beside the driver's side door is the man himself.
My heart instantly does that stupid, involuntary flutter it always does whenever he comes into view. He's leaning casually against the sleek frame of the car, watching me with a heavy intensity that gets me instantly flustered.
I close the distance between us, stopping right in front of him on the pavement and looking up. Up close, I can see a faint trace of exhaustion lingering around the edges of his eyes...but the moment my eyes meet his, a soft, genuine smile touches his lips, making the weariness vanish entirely.
"Hi," I murmur, looking up at him.
Instead of answering, Bastian reaches out, the tip of his finger lightly tracing the neckline of my sweater. He hooks his finger under the knit collar and gently pulls me forward. I go willingly, stepping right into his space until there are only a few inches left between us.
"How was your day?" I ask softly.
"Busy," he says, his voice low and heavy. "Stressful." He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me completely flush against him. "Though it is significantly better now that you're a part of it."
I smile, bringing my hands up to loop around his neck, and pull him down for a kiss.
When the kiss breaks and I go to lean back, his grip on my waist doesn't loosen. If anything, his arms tighten slightly, holding me against his chest for a long, quiet moment. I stay completely still in his embrace. Pressed up against him like this, I can feel the hard thud of his heart, and it’s beating fast. Way faster than usual. I glance up at his face, taking in the faint tension around his jaw.
Is he actually nervous? He kind of seems like he is.
A sudden pang of guilt hits me right in the chest. Seeing him like this makes me feel terrible. I don't want him forcing himself to open up if he’s not ready. I’ve been patient with him this long, I can keep waiting until he's comfortable.
I angle my head back, locking my eyes onto his. "We don't have to do the whole Q&A tonight, okay?" I tell him softly, reassuringly. "It's really not necessary. We can just go have a nice dinner. Just getting to spend time with you is more than enough."
He studies my face carefully, searching my eyes for a long, quiet beat.
"I promised," he says low.
"I know, but it's fine—"
"I agree that we should have a nice, peaceful dinner," he cuts in smoothly, though his voice is entirely gentle. "Which is why we should talk first and get it out of the way."
I blink, my gaze darting across his features. "Now?"
He gives a firm, single nod. "Now works." He releases his hold on my waist, taking my hand in his. "Let's get you out of the cold first."