“I don’t know. And I get how that could be scary. But I can tell you what I do know. Every time we talk, I walk away with a goofy grin on my face. Throughout the day I’ll just break into laughter thinking about something funny you said. When I catch sight of you it’s as if the oxygen is being sucked from the room because you literally take my breath away. I can’t articulate why I know it’s you. But I know you’re it for me. If you’re not ready to take this relationship to the next step, that’s perfectly fine because I’m willing to wait for cupid to spin the block and shoot you with his arrow.”
“So you’re just not scared this could end up in flames with us never talking to one another again?”
“Is it a possibility? Sure. But five years with you, shit five good months with you would make the heartbreak worth it.”
“We barely know each other.”
“My parents knew each other for two weeks when my dad popped the question and they’ve been happily married for close to thirty-six years. Time is relative.”
I was one of those women who wanted to be pursued; wooing was a lost art form. Nowadays most people fell into relationships without ever clearly declaring their true feelings. If you asked me, I think they did that so when it didn’t work, they could walk away under the pretense they were never fully invested. With no official titles, you’re not suffering a loss when it falls apart.
Then there were the guys who said all the right things. Showered you with attention, made you feel special, but it was all a ruse to get you to fall so that when they started to be neglectful, you’d stick around hoping the dude you fell for would eventually return. These types of brothers were soul suckers, taking a little of you each time. They stole bits and pieces of your joy, time, and hope, leaving behind anxiety, stress, and self-doubt. Aiden could be classified as a soul sucker. He laid out the rug and then pulled it from under me, only to blame me when the shift caused me to take a tumble.
“I steal things,” I blurted out. It was important he understood what he was getting into.
“Excuse me?”
“I steal things. I’m not doing smash and grabs at the mall, but occasionally I steal things.”
“Why are you telling me this?
“Because I’m a thief, Kris and you have to accept that. I have no intentions of changing and I don’t want to ruin your Wordbop empire. I am currently stealing internet from my neighbor. When I go to a yogurt shop, I hide gummy bears at the bottom of the cup so I don’t get charged.”
“Don’t they use scales?”
“If they can’t see it, it doesn’t count.”
“I don’t think that’s how Pinkberry works but?—”
“And then there are the hotels. I take pens, robes, and items from the maid’s cart. All my towels are from Holiday Inn’s spring break collection.”
“Wow, sticky fingers,” he joked.
“That’s not a deal breaker?”
“Belen, I work in tech. If I told you some of the stories your head would spin. I’m talking embezzlement, fraud, and sex scandals. Petty theft I can handle, although we may want to look into a program. Plus, I already knew you were a thief because you stole my hea?—”
I lifted a silencing finger. “Please don’t.”
“You’re right, that was corny.”
The last time a guy asked me to be his girlfriend was my freshman year of college. I appreciated Kris being upfront with his feelings, and it was hard not to buy into the all in romance story he was pushing.
“I’m willing to give you a monthly subscription. Meaning either one of us can cancel at any time,” I said.
“I was looking for more of an annual fee.” He pulled me onto his lap.
Anything he said after that was lost because all my focus was diverted to the bulge I was straddling. Even though there was fabric between us, my hips instinctually started to slowly grind against him.
“If you were me,would you get my wife a vacuum or jewelry for Christmas?” Tyler asked between forkfuls of fried rice.
“It depends on the woman. I know some women go up for household appliances. They don’t want a cashmere sweater or diamonds, they’re looking for the fridge with a touch screen tablet in the door.”
“I’m just trying to get her something that has her acting like a ho, ho, ho, on Christmas.”
“You’re looking for the gift that keeps on giving.”
“Hopefully she’s giving me some head,” he whispered, and we both erupted into laughter. “You know you’re always welcome at our house for Christmas dinner.”
