“Whatever you want.”
“And if I shave it all off?”
“Then I’ll like it because you did it.”
I chuckle, shaking my head and letting my fingers roam to the nape of his neck. “Just let the stubble grow back okay? I like it when you have it short.”
“It’ll be back by morning.”
I laugh and catch his satisfied grin. “You are…”
“I’m what?” Christian breathes like he needs some sort of reassurance, and my smile fades, my lips remaining parted. “Tell me.”
“You are…”
hot
wonderful
the love of my life
unbelievable
incredible
you
There are so many ways I can finish that sentence…
“You are…perfect, Christian Calloway,” I breathe. “And a better man than you think.”
Christian frowns, his eyes falling away from my face. Then he shakes his head ever so slightly. “I’m not.”
“You are,” I say, lifting his chin with my hand holding his jaw. “You are.”
“I’d die for you, Lana.”
I smile weakly. “If you’re staying… Christian, if you’re staying?—”
“Iamstaying.”
“I know,” I say. “But you have to know I can’t give you…all ofthat. I can’t offer you extravagant things. I can’t buy you expensive gifts?—”
“Why would you think I want any of that?”
I lift a shoulder. “Because…you have all of those things.”
“Lana…” He shakes his head and sits up straighter, holding me on his lap. “Iwant to buy you expensive things. Give you extravagant things.Iwant to give you things I couldn’t before and I wish you’d let me. Like those shoes.”
“What about them?”
“They’re in your closest, in their boxes.”
“They are expensive shoes, I don’t want to ruin them.”
“I want you to wear them though.”
I nod.
