“I can pack stuff. I can do it.”
He grins and kisses me again. “Okay, Rose. Okay.”
A rush of confidence flows through my veins and the nervous energy thrumming in my blood quiets down.
I pretend it’s only him and I in this ground. And no one else.
It seems to work as I take out the blueberry cupackes from the box and neatly put them on the tray. Heath’s mom made them fresh in the morning. We were having dinner the other night and she mentioned how she’d heard that there would be a bake sale taking place and if he were a part of it. At first he refused, saying it’s not something he likes to do, but only Iknew what was the reason. At bake sale you’re supposed to bring home-made stuff and Kelly has been visiting been her family, so Marie, Sebastian and I were going to make everything but she suggested that she wants to do it and for some reason Heath didn’t say a word more.
Marie and Sebastian made banana bread, cinnamon sourdough, and lemon bars. Heath and I prepared chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and some other cookies. It was the most fun I’d ever had, making all those things with him while his mother helped us along. For a moment, my chest stopped aching and my sorrow seemed to disappear. I felt comfortable inside those walls and room that were so different from the kitchen I had grown up with the people who’d had raised me.
Since the night mom has kicked me out, I haven’t recieved a single phone call or text from her. My fingers hover over her contact, lingering there, but never quite lowering enough to press the screen.
I’ve stayed with Heath for nearly a week now but it still feels like a strange place to me.
Carol hasn’t said anything to me about leaving and Xavier has been working in the city so I haven’t seen him since the morning I went on the date. It’d be a lie if I say I’m not dreading his arrival. That man holds power in the room. The air shifts moves at his command. I’m sure the minute he comes back I’d be out of his mansion and even Heath wouldn’t be able to do anything.
That thought makes it hard for me to sleep at night. And Heath has to hold me in his arms and talk to me until he’s the only thing I’m thinking about.Sometimes I fall asleep just listening to his voice, but there are moments when we talk for hours, and with each conversation, I understand him a little more. He tells me about Emery and I tell him aboutmy childhood. Both topics only bring us pain and sadness, but saying the words out loud somehow make it hurt less. Something broken inside us mends and the gaps between the walls fill.
I know I’ll never be the same if this bond between us ever breaks.
I’d never love anthoer guy like I love Heath Travon. I’d never trust him like I trust him. And I’d give myself to him like I’ve given myself to this guy.
Maybe I’m too young and my emotions are heightened, but I know what I feel. This love is just like the love I’ve read about in books. The kind of love stories made me believe in.
It’s always going to be him.
“Are you guys ready?” Marie asks, sprinting toward us before stopping at the table. “I talked to people, well, Sebastian did because he has better social skills than me. We convinced a few people to come to our stall, however they all looked scared when I said Heath will serve you.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“It’s just the way your face looks.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile. I know what Marie is doing.
“What is wrong with my face, Blondie?” Heath scowls.
Marie rolls her eyes. “To serve customers you have to put on a smile.”
“I’m not smiling at strangers.”
“You have to.”
“I won’t,” he grumbles and focuses on writing something down on his notebook.
Marie turns to me with a smirk. “Hope, this grinch will scare our customers away and we can’t have that. So why don’t you smile at — ”
“She is not smiling at random people,” Heath says.
“She can speak for herself,” Marie aruges.
They both look at me and I shrug. “I can do it if it means we win.”
Marie grins and gives me a thumbs up. “Yay! We’re starting in five minutes. Good luck!”
Then she’s running in some other direction.
A heated stare burns the side of my face. I turn and find Heath gazing at me with an annoyed expression. “You don’t have to smile at fucking strangers.”
