Chapter 22 Even Max blinked . : 71 55 vouchers Then he whispered , " Okay , now I really feel third - wheely . I'm gonna go FaceTime your plants or something . " Max , bless his soul left the room . Probably to the balcony . Or to give the scene its cinematic space . I stared at Steven . He stared at me . His jaw was tight . My heart was loose . And the tension ? Thicker than the protein shake he didn't drink . I lifted my chin . " So ... not just friends anymore ? " He smirked . " Only if you promise not to kiss Max again , even ironically . " I smiled . " Only if you stop calling me ' just your PT . " And then ? He took my hand , kissed it - like the drama king he was - and whispered, " Deal . " Oh , darling . The sass war was over . The love war ? Just getting started . To say I was happy ? Please . This wasn't just happy . This was heart - flip , stomach - dance , internal marching band doing Beyoncé choreography kind of happy . Steven McLeon , the man whose daily facial expression was set to " annoyed billionaire ," just told me I wasn't just his friend . I was the reason he laughed . The reason he didn't give up . Ugh . Swoon level : unlocked . But let's be real . I wasn't about to cartwheel over a half - confession . This girl still had standards . Yes , it was deliciously satisfying to see the blue - eyed monster tap dance in his soul when Max came in flexing like a Greek god . Yes , his voice got low and serious . Yes , he took my hand like I was a duchess in a Regency drama . But let's not get too excited , inner Madison . He still hadn't dropped the L - word . Still ... I looked at him - really looked at him - and I saw something different now . The tension in his shoulders wasn't about pain anymore . The fire in his eyes wasn't rage or pride or ego , It was ... me . I was the one igniting that spark . I cleared my throat , trying not to smile like a girl who just got 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 22 VIP backstage access to the concert of her life . 71 F55 vouchers " Well , " I said , brushing imaginary lint off my hoodie like it was Dior couture , " that was a decent confession , McLeon . Like , 6.7 on the emotional Richter scale . Not bad . " He chuckled , eyes still locked on me . " Oh , just a 6.7 ? " " I mean ... " I shrugged , walking backward toward the hallway , " I've heard better . From movie characters . Max , even . And once , from a guy selling lechon manok behind my apartment . " He narrowed his eyes . " Are you actually ranking me under a rotisserie chicken vendor right now ? " " Just saying . You're leveling up , but you're not at final boss mode yet ." He smirked . " And what would final boss mode sound like , oh wise sass queen? " I turned at the doorway , winked , and whispered , " Something like ' I love you , Madison , let's buy a beach house and name our twins Sass and Sarcasm . " " He froze . I grinned . And strutted away like a woman who just conquered Mount Brooding Billionaire . I didn't need the full confession yet . Not today . But one thing was certain : Steven McLeon was leveling up . And this time ? He was playing for keeps . The next day ? A - Freaking - Mazing . Like , cue the dramatic slow - motion montage with inspirational music and birds flying kind of amazing . Steven stood . On his own . For three full minutes . No hands . No dramatic grunting . No sassy pep talks from me threatening to take away his coffee privileges . Just him , standing there , strong and stubborn and absolutely beautiful . If that wasn't progress , I didn't know what was . We were in the middle of the living room , surrounded by yoga mats and resistance bands , and the man 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 22 ... looked like he just unlocked a secret cheat code in life . 71 E55 vouchers I clapped . " Three minutes ! That's , like , two minutes and fifty - nine seconds more than you used to last . In standing , I mean . Don't get weird . " He rolled his eyes but his smile ... oh , it was pure sunshine dipped in sass . The kind of smile I hadn't seen on him before . Not that soft . Not that proud . Not that hopeful . And then ? Ice cream . Because obviously that's what successful billionaires and their sassy PTs do when they hit milestones . He let me pick the flavor ( mistake number one ) , so I brought out the mint chocolate chip like the chaotic neutral queen I am . He took one bite . Grimaced . " It tastes like a cold breath mint and toothpaste " I grinned . " That's the point . It's a two - in - one experience . Dessert and dental hygiene . I'm nothing if not practical . Like you ate the cream , and brushed your teeth at the same time ." " Why do I feel scammed ? " " You weren't scammed . You were cleansed . Spiritually . " He laughed . Laughed , I tell you . Full - on chuckle that made his shoulders shake and his eyes crinkle . The kind of laugh that makes you forget he used to wake up with pain in his spine and fire in his temper . But here's the part no one warns you about : After the laughing ... he looked at me. Like , looked looked at me . Not the usual " you're weird but useful " stare . No. This was the " how did I survive before you walked into my penthouse with thrift store sneakers and enough sarcasm to power a city " kind of stare . His eyes were soft . Intense . And terrifyingly quiet . And for a moment ? I felt it . I was his anchor . His spark . His hope in a stupid hoodie that says " I came , I sassed , I conquered ." He didn't say anything . And I didn't ask . Because we weren't there yet . Not lovers . Not officially . But friends ? Nope . We were way beyond that . 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 22 71 55 vouchers So , I took another spoonful of my questionable minty dessert , pointed the spoon at his face and said , о " We're not in love . Yet . But the way you're staring at me ? You might want to schedule a dentist . All that sugar from my face ? Dangerous ." He smirked . " I'll take my chances . " Girl ... Progress . 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 23 Chapter 23