“I learned it from Callie. I just want to get to know you. You’ve helped me so much since I’ve been here in Roots, and I want to do the same for you, but I can’t help you if I don’t understand you.”
“I know.” He tugs Maverick’s sleepy body toward him so that his spine is pressed against his side. “I’m afraid that if I tell you about my past, you’ll think less of me.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown quite fond of you. I went from wanting to avoid you to choosing to hang out with you because I like the person you are.”
“You also had to live with me because of the flood in the cottage.”
“We could’ve figured out another arrangement, but we didn’t.”
“True. I just think you like the person you believeI am, but you don’t know who I was or who I truly am.”
“So tell me. Give me a chance to show you that the past won’t change things. I have a hard time believing you could’ve done something so terrible that it would change the way I feel about you.”
Anticipation fills me as the silence extends. Maybe I asked for too much. We haven’t made any kind of commitment to one another, but here I am trying to get him to open up to me, telling him I’ll still care for him after. Even though I believe the words with every fiber of my being, I recognize this is still a lot to ask of him given our circumstances.
“How about another question?”
“It’s not going to be any better.”
He frowns.
“Why did you look so panicked when you and Callie couldn’t find me at the bar?”
“For the same reason I’ve avoided bars before that night. I had a bad experience one time, and it’s been hard to shake.”
“That was… vague.”
A smile breaks out on his face, and I feel relieved. “My turn to ask you a question.”
“What? No! That doesn’t even count! You only gave me half an answer.”
He shrugs. “Guess you should’ve picked a better question. I gave you a second chance.”
“You’re so frustrating.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I don’t know why.” He smirks, turning toward me eagerly. “Okay, my question is… what’s the most embarrassing thing to happen to you?”
“No way! Veto! If you’re not going to answer my first question and give me a bullshit answer for the second, then I don’t have to answer your question.”
“Fine. Then I get another question.” I shake my head, but he asks anyway. “Has today convinced you to stay in Roots?”
“You don’t deserve an answer to your question after you dodged mine.”
“Oh, come on. Tell me!” He leans in closer, starting to tickle me.
“Never!” I huff out in between squeals. I roll away from him, trying to get relief, but he follows me closely. Again, I try to turn away from him and slip out of his grasp, but immediately his hands are on my hips, and he drags me into him. Then we both stop. Our gazes lock. My breath hitches, and my heart stops as I wait for him to make that first slow movement toward me, the anticipation of the sparks that are about to fly between us building with each second.
Something about the way he’s looking at me floods me with fear.What’re we doing? Why am I playing with both our hearts when I know I can’t stay here?
Instead of leaning into him like I desperately want to, I draw back and finally answer, “Today hasn’t changed anything.”
ChapterThirty-Four
Rhett
Her words were barelyabove a whisper, but every syllable echoes in my head.
Today didn’t change anything.My heart stops beating. I pull back, releasing my grip from her waist and rolling onto my back in disbelief.
