Chapter 4
Billie wasn’t stupid.
Mikey said fine, but the tension in her shoulders told another story.
They ended up back at Billie’s hotel, sitting across from each other on the couch, silence stretching between them like a loaded gun. Mikey’s hood was still up, fingers fidgeting in her pocket.
Billie leaned back, watching her. She could see it—the way Mikey was bracing for something, like she was waiting for Billie to say the wrong thing, for everything to fall apart.
It pissed Billie off.
Not at Mikey. At whatever had made her like this.
Billie sighed. “Alright. Spill.”
Mikey blinked. “What?”
“You’re thinking too much.” Billie gestured at her. “It’s loud.”
Mikey tensed. “I’m fine.”
Billie raised a brow. “Yeah? Then why do you look like you’re waiting for a bomb to drop?”
Mikey stayed quiet.
Billie softened. “Mikey.”
Mikey flinched. Just a little. But Billie caught it.
Billie exhaled. “Listen. You don’t have to do anything. But you gotta talk to me.”
Mikey shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
Billie scoffed. “Oh, bullshit.”
Mikey shot her a look. “Billie.”
Billie held her ground. “You don’t let people in, do you?”
Mikey stiffened.
Billie tilted her head. “How long you been running?”
Mikey inhaled sharply.
Billie didn’t back down. “Because I see you, Mikey. You keep your distance. You brush things off. And when something actually gets to you? You run.”
Mikey clenched her jaw.
Billie leaned forward. “I don’t know what you’ve been through. I don’t know why this scares you so much. But I do know one thing—”
She met Mikey’s eyes.
“I’m not gonna hurt you.”
Mikey flinched again. This time, she looked away. “You don’t know that.”
Billie’s chest ached.
Mikey exhaled sharply. “You don’t get it, Billie. You don’t know what it’s like when someone tells you they want you—” Her voice wavered. “—only for them to realize later that they don’t.”
Billie’s breath caught.
Mikey’s fingers tightened into fists. “I have to run, Billie. Because I’ve already seen how this ends.”
Billie swallowed hard.
She wasn’t used to this side of Mikey. She wasn’t used to seeing her—really seeing her—like this.
But god, she wasn’t going to let her go through this alone.
Billie reached forward, slowly, like approaching a scared animal, and took Mikey’s hand.
Mikey stiffened.
Billie didn’t let go.
“I’m not them,” she said quietly.
Mikey inhaled sharply.
Billie squeezed her hand. “You hear me?”
Mikey’s fingers twitched.
Billie leaned in, her voice steady. “I want this.”
Mikey’s breath was shaky. “What if you change your mind?”
Billie tilted her head. “What if you don’t let yourself believe me?”
Silence.
Billie searched Mikey’s face. “You trust me?”
Mikey didn’t answer.
Billie softened. “I think you do.”
Mikey swallowed. “I don’t trust myself.”
That made something crack in Billie’s chest.
She reached up, fingers brushing against the edge of Mikey’s hood. “Then trust me for now.”
Mikey closed her eyes.
Billie let her sit with it. Let her breathe.
And then—finally—Mikey exhaled.
She opened her eyes, and something shifted.
Billie felt it before she saw it.
The air between them changed.
Mikey’s hand tightened around hers, but this time, she wasn’t pulling away.
She was grounding herself.
Billie barely had time to react before Mikey moved.
Not fast. Not rough. Just… decisive.
She tugged Billie closer, making her feel her, making sure Billie knew—this wasn’t just fear anymore.
This was her losing control just enough to take something back.
Billie’s breath hitched.
Mikey’s other hand lifted, fingers ghosting over Billie’s jaw.
Billie let out a shaky exhale.
Mikey searched her eyes, her voice low. “You sure?”
Billie swallowed. “You’re asking me that?”
Mikey’s grip tightened. Just a little. Just enough to make Billie feel it.
Billie felt heat rush through her.
Holy shit.
She barely processed it before Mikey leaned in, closing the space between them.
The kiss wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was firm.
Like Mikey had finally let herself take what she wanted.
Billie melted.
She didn’t fight it, didn’t push back—she gave in, letting Mikey lead, letting herself be wanted.
And god, she loved it.
She let Mikey deepen the kiss, let her hands tighten around Billie’s waist.
Billie shivered.
Mikey broke first, but she didn’t go far, forehead resting against Billie’s.
Both of them were breathing hard.
Billie smirked. “There she is.”
Mikey huffed, pulling away. “…Shut up.”
Billie grinned. “Not a chance.”
Mikey rolled her eyes but didn’t move away.
And Billie?
She just smirked.
Because for the first time—Mikey stayed.