Chapter 72 CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

Chapter 72 CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
 JOSH’S POV

Eva watched me quietly. Her expression softened and I could feel the tension from earlier slowly leaving her body.

“I'm not going to stand there while everyone thinks I'm with Indianna when I'm actually with someone else.”

I swallowed, my eyes staying on hers. “I'm with you.”

“I don't expect you to forget what happened. I don't expect you to suddenly be okay with it just because I'm explaining it. But I need you to understand that whatever Indianna and I were, whatever happened between us, it isn't what you and I are.”

“And what I said earlier was just because I was jealous. Eva, you’re so amazing so of course anyone would want you to themselves. And I want to be so selfish with you so I didn’t even want to imagine Aaron also having you.”

“He isn’t having me,” she finally spoke up, the corners of her lips stretching slightly. “What am I? Some toy anyone can have?”

“No, no, I didn’t mean it that way,” I shook my head. “I meant I—”

“I think I know exactly what you meant,” she cut me off before I could shoot myself in the leg again, a smile finally appearing on her face. Right at that moment, my heart immediately felt lighter, her eyes lightening up. “It’s okay. I understand.”

“I always knew things between you and Indianna was complicated I just—”

She didn’t finish the sentence but I didn’t need her to. I understood what she was trying to say.

Maybe she didn't completely understand everything yet, and maybe there were still parts of my past that she would need time to process, but the fact that she was sitting beside me with that small smile on her face was already more than enough

“I want to explain things to Aaron properly,” she continued. “I need to. I—”

“I understand,” I gave her hand another squeeze. “I really do, I was just being unreasonable earlier. Of course, you should do what feels right. Me liking him or not should have nothing to do with that.”

“Okay,” she nodded slowly. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

My hand moved slowly from hers, my fingers gently brushing against her cheek before settling there, and I found myself simply staring at her.

I didn't know how long I stayed like that. There was something about seeing her smile again that made every second of the argument feel worth enduring, even though I never wanted to go through something like that with her again. Her eyes were softer now, the anger that had filled them earlier replaced with something warmer, and I couldn't stop myself from letting my thumb brush lightly beneath her eye.

“Thank you, Eva,” I repeated, my voice quieter this time.

“For what?” she blinked at me.

“For still being here.”

“I want to be here. I want to be there for you too,” she said, her expression softening. “I'm not sure I know exactly what to do when things get tough, but I want to learn. I can learn.”

“Oh, Eva,” I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as both my hands moved to her cheeks, gently holding her face between my palms. “This is enough.”

She stared at me, like she was trying to figure out if I meant it.

And I did. I meant every word.

“You don't have to do anything. You've never had to. Just knowing you're right by my side has always been enough.”

Her eyes remained on mine, and there was something so gentle in the way she looked at me that I suddenly forgot every word I had been planning to say.

I just wanted to look at her.

To memorize the softness in her expression, the tiny smile she was trying not to show, the way her eyes seemed to hold mine as though she was just as unwilling to look away.

My thumb slowly traced her cheek again and then I leaned closer. She didn't move away, my hands slipping towards her neck as I pulled her closer, our lips meeting in a soft, gentle kiss.

The kiss didn't feel rushed or demanding. I felt my heart soar in my chest, every movement from her lips just enough to remind me that she was here and that somehow, despite everything, we were okay.

Taking a moment to catch our breaths, I slowly pulled away from the kiss but remained close enough so I could still feel her breath against my face. She stared at me, the look in her eyes gentle until the sound of a bike wheeling from a distance broke the silence.

I looked over her shoulder, immediately spotting a pizza guy walking towards their front door. He seemed to pause and then after looking around, resumed walking again.

“Did you order pizza?”

“What?” she followed my gaze and immediately burst into laughter. “No, I didn’t. Peter did.”

“Oh,” I watched him reach for the doorbell. “Well, pizza is here.”

“Yeah,” she returned her gaze to me, forcing me to do the same. “I should probably head back in now.”

“Yeah, you should.”

The words hung in the air and neither of us moved. I was now holding her hand, my fingers intertwined with hers, and for a few seconds, we simply stared at each other.

She glanced towards the house then back at me, her smile making my chest stir.

“I really should go.”

“Yes,” I muttered, barely convinced myself. “You should.”

“Good night then.”

“Good night.”

She smiled before slowly pulling her hand away from mine and turning towards the door. Her fingers had barely reached for the handle when I caught her hand again.

I heard her chuckle as she slowly turned around to face me again. “What?”

I didn't answer. The words at the tip of my tongue couldn’t convey the emotions coursing through my veins even if I tried to.

So instead, I simply leaned closer and kissed her one more time.