Dax acted cool as hell. Like Erin hadn't just gone radio silent on the biggest question he'd ever asked her. Like he wasn't waiting for an answer. Like he wasn't watching her out of the corner of his eye, completely aware that she was overthinking the hell out of it.

Erin wasn't subtle. She was still curled up against him, but she kept adjusting her position, shifting her weight, pulling the blanket tighter, messing with the sleeves of her hoodie. Her fingers tapped idly against her knee, her breathing just a little too controlled. She was too quiet.

And if there was one thing Dax knew about Ace Calloway, it was that when she was thinking too hard, she got quiet. So he let her stew. Let her brain do exactly what he knew it would. And then, just to push her further, he casually stretched, resting his arm along the back of the couch like he wasn't fazed at all. Like he hadn't asked her to move in with him twenty minutes ago. Like he was just watching the damn movie.

Erin, still holding onto the blanket like it was her lifeline, finally sighed heavily.

Dax smirked. He knew that sigh. That was the 'I'm thinking so hard it's hurting my brain' sigh. Still, he didn't say anything. Not yet. Instead, he finally, very casually, held her phone out toward her. "Here. You can have this back now."

Erin blinked at him, clearly thrown by the sudden move. "Seriously?"

Dax shrugged. "I figured by now Carmen's probably yelling at you in all caps."

Erin narrowed her eyes as she took the phone, unlocking it.

Sure enough...

Carmen (3 messages):

· CALL. ME. RIGHT. NOW.

· DO NOT MAKE ME SHOW UP AT YOUR PLACE.

· I SWEAR TO GOD ERIN IF YOU LEAVE ME ON READ—

Erin huffed, letting her head fall back against Dax's shoulder. "I hate that you know me this well."

Dax grinned. "Yeah, well. I did say I like you, Calloway. Figured I should prove it."

Erin groaned, tugging the blanket over her face.

Dax chuckled, pulling it down just enough to see her eyes. "You know you don't have to answer me tonight, right?"

Erin sighed, looking up at him. "Yeah, but it's not like I can think about anything else now."

Dax smirked. "Exactly."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're the worst."

He shrugged again. "And yet, you're still curled up with me."

Erin groaned again, but this time, she didn't move away.

Dax just smiled. He could wait. He knew Erin would run circles in her own head. She always found her way back. When she was ready, she'd give him the answer he already knew was coming.

The movie had long since ended. The screen had gone dark, the soft hum of the city outside filling the quiet spaces between them.

Dax was comfortable, stretched out on the sofa, one arm slung lazily around Erin's shoulders as she leaned into him, warm and soft under the blanket.

He could feel her fidgeting. Shifting her weight, like she was about to move, but she hadn't yet. Not completely. Not until she finally exhaled slowly and started pushing the blanket off. "Alright, I'm calling it. I need my bed."

Dax smirked. "You sure? Thought you were pretty comfortable over here."

Erin scoffed, stretching her arms above her head before standing. "Comfortable is dangerous. If I stay here, I'm never moving again."

Dax tilted his head back against the couch, watching her.

She lingered for a second, shifting on her feet, biting her lip like she was still thinking.

Dax let the silence sit. Let her sit with it. He knew she was about to say something important.

And, just like that, she exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. I'll do it."

Dax blinked, straightening slightly. "Do what?"

Erin shot him a look. "You know exactly what."

Dax smirked. "Maybe. But I wanna hear you say it."

She rolled her eyes but didn't look away. Didn't hesitate. "I'll move in with you."

Dax grinned. Big. Slow. Like he knew this was exactly where they were headed all along. "Yeah?"

Erin huffed. "Yeah."

Dax pushed himself up off the couch, stepping toward her. "No take-backs, Calloway. You're stuck with me now."

Erin smirked. "And you're stuck with me, Carter. You sure you can handle that?"

Dax's hands found her waist, pulling her closer, their bodies barely an inch apart. "Oh, I know I can."

Then he kissed her. Slow. Deep. Like he was sealing the deal with something more than words.

Erin's fingers curled into his shirt, her body pressing against his, giving as much as she took. The weight in her chest, the one that had been pulling her in a hundred different directions, finally lifted. She was exactly where she was supposed to be.

When they finally pulled apart, Dax smirked. "Guess I should start clearing some closet space for you."

Erin grinned. "Damn right you should."

She tugged his hand, leading him toward the bedroom.

Dax followed without a single question.