Though Saylor had only met his three brothers today in person, she had been around when he’d talked to his mother and siblings and she always got on the call to at least say hi.
No one else he’d dated wanted to do that.
She never shied away from it either. Making the effort to get to know him.
Just like he did the same with her grandmother.
“No, she wouldn’t. And I’m sorry that your parents didn’t stop Sandy from doing that shit to you, but not everyone has malicious thoughts either.”
“I know that,” she said.
“But you think I do. You think everyone does that might not understand you.”
“That’s not true,” she argued. “I’ve dated a lot of guys who didn’t understand and that was fine. But when they said it got in the way of us doing things or it stressed them out, that is when I was done with it.”
“As you should be,” he said. “But that doesn’t bother me. I thought I handled things two weeks ago damn fine.”
“You did,” she said. “But you’ve been trying to baby me since and it’s frustrating.”
“You haven’t said a word about it,” he said.
“Because I didn’t want to cause a fight.”
He pointed at her. “There. Right there. You can do it and I can’t.”
She stared at him and then laughed. “You should see yourself right now. You’re in a squat and pointing both fingers at me.”
He straightened up and flopped next to her on the bed. “This is a mess.”
“Not a mess. Just a huge breakdown in communication. Did you do that move to make me laugh?”
“No,” he said, sighing. “I hadn’t even realized I’d done it.”
He’d store it in his memory banks for next time though.
“Rowan. We rushed this thing with us. I know it and you know it.”
“It doesn’t mean it’s wrong. My mother was married in less than two months to my father.”
“I get that. I do. And I know your siblings all had fast relationships too. But our situation was different. I’m not a long distance type of person.”
“I know that. This was the only way it would have worked and I really wanted you to say yes. I don’t think it’s bad or wrong of me to have wanted to make it easy for you since you are the one who gave up so much to come here.”
“But what did I really give up? I was going to move anyway. Nothing about moving here has been bad and everything has been wonderful.”
“Except this fight.”
She laughed again. “Rowan. People fight. We should have fought more before this. Or over something more important. This has to stop or it won’t work, regardless of our love.”
“What has to stop?” he asked. Why the hell was the panic making him shake?
“The lack of communication. The fact that we both are afraid to make waves even though you can handle them so well and I’m the one that crashes when they are too high.”
“Outside,” he said. “I get it. And you’re getting better at riding the waves.”
“I am. Tell me about Ava. And before you say anything else, I’m not jealous you had a girlfriend or even someone you still talk to or work with. I’m upset that you didn’t trust me to be strong enough to handle that information. I thought I’d proven my strength enough.”
“You have. I was wrong to underestimate you. I think the truth is, I was the uncomfortable one.”
