His lips purse. “You make it sound like I wasn’t.”
“Because you weren’t. We both know you were avoiding us, mainly me but I didn’t have the heart to tell Connor that.”
He glances away from me. A sign I’ve noticed when he’s become uncomfortable. Too bad I’m about to make that worsefor him.“I get that you didn’t text me back but did you even listen to my voicemail?”
His fingers drum against his outer thigh. Only another sign that his stoic facial expression will never show. “I listened to it,” he gruffly says.
“And you still chose to ignore me.” I shouldn’t sound so hurt. But I do. And I almost hate myself for it. Except I never could because I can’t hate myself for caring about him.
Glacier eyes flash to mine. “It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like? Help me understand.”
“It’s hard to explain, Grace.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s still Gracie Mae to you.”
“How long am I not going to be able to call you Grace?”
“Until you admit that you were avoiding me.”
He stares at me intensely but I don’t wither under his gaze. Because even though Oak is the most intimidating person I have ever met, in size and appearance, I never feel intimidatedbyhim.
He takes a step closer to me and I feel the air thinning. My body is already hyper aware as goosebumps appear on my skin. There’s a magnetic pull that makes me want to draw closer to him but I stand firm.
His fingers graze my shoulder and electric zaps beneath my skin. Then he lifts the strap to my luggage bag and places it on the ground besides us.
Before I can question him he lifts me up like I weigh nothing but a pound from under my armpits and sits me on the hood of my car.Because he’s incredibly tall, almost near seven foot, I still have to look up at him.
A mere mortal admiring a god.
“I listened to every one of your voicemails,” he begins. Then he leans in closer to me and cages me in with his arms on either side of my hips. I can smell the clean scent mixed with motor oil.My heart lurches in my throat as I try to stay calm. “Read every one of your texts,” he continues in that husky voice that sounds like sex. “You’re right, I was avoiding you. I’m sorry.”
I blink up at him, momentarily at a loss for words. Having him this close is affecting all my senses. And apparently my brain cells because I can’t formulate a single thought.
Then he surprises me when he takes my hand, the very same hand he was holding onto like a lifeline four days ago.
Holding my hand gently between us he says, “And I’m sorry for this.” Keeping his eyes on mine he presses the most tender kiss to the back of my hand.
All the blood rushes to my cheeks. I feel the electric currents going off like sparks inside my body. My heart thumps wildly as the butterflies attack my stomach.
“Know that it was never my intention to hurt you, Grace. I’ve caused enough people pain and I’m sorry that you’re now a part of that.”
How is it possible for him to make my heart soar with sweet affection yet wrench it the next with his devastating words?
He brings my hand back down to rest on my lap. Then he releases me from his proximity. I already feel the loss of him.
“I’m a man who believes in honor and respect and avoiding you was not respecting you.”
I’ve never met a man like Oak before. A man who owns up to his mistakes and acknowledges others feelings in the matter. One who will apologize without having to be told. And yes I did want him to own up to avoiding me but I never asked for an apology.
“You called me Grace,” I breathe. It’s the only thing I can think of in this moment.
“I did.” He smiles softly. “Is that okay?”
I tilt my head to the side, a small smile playing on my lips. “I don’t know,” I start and he raises his brow. “I haven’t heard an explanation yet.”
“An explanation.” I nod my head. “The truth is what you want?” I nod my head again. He nods his head in return. “The truth is I have a lot of fucked up shit inside my head. And sometimes I don’t know how to fucking deal with it but by myself. I know that this is not the explanation you want to hear but you have to accept it for now.”
