“What?” she asks, finally acknowledging my presence.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize sincerely, and her shoulders slump slightly.
“For what?” she asks, not making it easy on me, and I’m fucking grateful for that, too. Who would have thought her busting my balls would be something I was grateful for?
“For trying to tell you what to wear. It’s not my place. I just...”What could I say?I don’t want any other man to look at you? To think about what you would feel like in their arms and in their bed because I want that and more? Where the hell are these thoughts comingfrom?
“I just… uhh…”—I scratch the back of my neck—“worried it’d be cold.”
“Cold?” she repeats and shakes her head. Her eyes flutter shut for a moment as a self-depreciating smile appears over face. “Of course.” Her smile is tight, and everything inside me goes on full alert. I fucked up again but have no idea how. “Wanna have lunch?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I answer too quickly, unable to ask about that smile or take back the stupid lie. “Only if you will let me treat you,” I bring up as we start walking toward the diner.
“Reed.” She turns her attention to me. I take the bags from her hands, and she lets me.
“Least I can do for being an overbearing jackass.” I shrug as I start walking again.
“I didn’t call you that,” she mutters. Without looking at her, I know she’s smiling.
“But you thought it?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder, and I see that adorable dimple pop out to say hi. Fuck me, I love that dimple.
“Maybe,” she mutters, and I bark out with laughter.
It’s rough and raspy, and when I look at her, she’s no longer next to me but behind me. She’s looking at me with awe and wonder. Fucking Christ. I want to know what I did so I can make her look at me that way for the rest of my life.
Danger! Danger! Danger!A red siren goes off in the back of my head, but I ignore it as she starts to walk again, and I don’t move until she’s next to me. The diner is too close for my own taste.
I wanna walk next to her forever and a day. Instead, I open the door for her and lead us toward a booth in the back. We sit and eat and talk.
She tells me more about her mom and how close they were. How a drunk driver killed her and how she never had the chance to say goodbye. How her uncle never bothered to make an appearance in her life despite knowing she was alone. I hate that for her. Hate knowing she has been alone for so long. Only with her best friend, whom it’s obvious she misses more than she’s willing to admit.
My ray of sunshine has had to be so strong for so long, and all I find myself wanting is to make her life easier somehow. To be there for her.
Before I know it, our dishes have been cleared and our drinks refilled a couple of times. Begrudgingly, even though I don’t want our lunch date to end, I take care of the bill, and we head back toward where we parked. Most of the snow has melted, so I tell her I’ll help her with getting chains for her tires the next day, and thankfully, she agrees.
When I reach my truck, I glance over to see if she’s still there, and the smile that’s been on my face fades away and a scowl takes its place.
I haven’t left her alone for more than five minutes, yet there is a guy talking to her. Someone closer to her age and probably less fucked in the head than me.
But I find as I watch her smile and wave goodbye before getting into her car, I don’t care that I know there’s someone better out there for her. No one will move the stars from the sky the way I can for her.
I have to figure out a way to let her know that and give me a chance. And pray that she can possibly see this old guy as something more than her grumpy neighbor.
Because she is already everything to me.
6
CAMILA
Iwork a little longer and harder than I should.
Between trying to catch up for the late start and trying not to think about Reed, my head is swimming and my focus sucks. But when I find a groove, I really get going. It’s not until a hard knock sounds at my door and I glance at my cell phone that I realize it’s after ten.
I stand and stretch before moving to the door and looking through the peephole. An immediate smile graces my face.
“Hey, there, big guy.” I grin at him.
“Hey,” he says. His expression is set like stone as he looks over my shoulder. I look behind me, wondering what he could possibly be looking for. “You doing okay?” he asks when our eyes met, and I nod.
