The Contract

chapter 20 - those words

Montana's POV

After dinner Zeus is supposed to be in the guest bedroom but he's not. He's sitting on my small little queen sized bed with his laptop in his hands waiting for his shares to come through at exactly twelve at night.

I've never seen him so focused on something before and I can't help but admire how determined he is. I walk out of the bathroom from my shower, with my hair in a big mess of a bun on my head and a big oversized tee with some of my panties on as I sit down next to him.

It's eleven thirty now, and after the celebration of my sister for hours it was finally time to go to bed and now everyone should be asleep. My parents think Zeus and I are sleeping separate but what they don't know won't hurt them.

I lay my head on his shoulder looking at his laptop as he sits there loading his company software over and over again waiting on his little percentage sign to change.

"You know staring won't make it happen faster," I tell him as I lay back into the sheets with the television softly playing.

"It'll make me less tense though," he mumbles back as I lay onto the pillow and rub his exposed back since he's only in athletic shorts. I use my nails to scratch his back and I know he likes it when he slips his hand under the comforter and grabs my thigh to comfort me.

"My mom said at the airport that if you loved me you would have been there. I just need to tell you and get it off my mind because it's been bothering me all day. It made me overthink a lot about us and it's not fair that I'm overwhelmed with it all and don't tell you." I whisper softly as I grip the sheet and his hand stops rubbing my thigh.

"Montana." He warns as I stare at his back tattoos. "I know, and I shouldn't be overthinking anything." I whisper.

"Just ask me then? What are you overthinking?" He asks as I hold my composure.

"Have you thought about being with someone else?" I whisper as he shakes his head no. "No, I haven't," he answers back.

"Have you thought about ending this?" I ask. "No," he answers back as I lay still feeling his hand warming my thigh. "Do you think about the future together?" I whisper.

"Yes." He answers back shocking me as I smile softly. "The last one, am I still want you want?" I whisper softly as he moves his laptop from his lap and leans back. He looks me dead in the face and kisses me softly as I kiss him back.

"Yes," he whispers as I rub his face in my hand. "Okay," I nod as I grip his face.

"My turn," he mumbles as I nod. "Do you love me?" He randomly asks as I still. I want to tell him and I know it might push him over the edge so I'm really scared.

"Don't get mad and storm out, promise me," I whisper tightening my grip as he tenses. "That gives me my answer then." He tells me pulling away as I stop him.

I sit up and push him down as I straddle his waist. "No Zeus. Stop." I demand pointing in his face and pushing him down.

"This is so not how I wanted this to happen." I glare as he looks away at the wall and I force him to stare at me by grabbing his face. "I'm not going to tell you something that will rip my heart out if you don't feel the same way. I know you and if you don't feel the same way I do it will crush me." I defend as I sigh. I think he's realizing what I mean.

"Do you love me Zeus?" I ask him flipping the tables around. He doesn't say anything but he softly rubs my thigh in his hand and stares into my eyes the entire time.

"Can you tell me if you do? Or am I stupid to think you could?" I whisper softly.

"You aren't stupid, I just don't know if I can say those words," he whispers out as a smile grows on my face and I make him smile when I smile as wide as I can. "You love me!" I smile as he laughs under his breath and I kiss his lips.