“Why?”
He shrugged. “I was interested. I’ve lived in a tiny village my whole life.”
“She was flirting with you.”
“I wasn’t flirting back.”
Anger was still hot in my blood. “I’m going home.”
“Callie, don’t go home like this. Please.”
I cut him a dirty look. “I don’t know. I think I’ll give you the cold shoulder for a few weeks and then let Ollie drool all over me in front of you.” I referred to a guy in our year who’d asked me out three times, even though he knew I was dating Lewis. He drove Lewis nuts. “See how you like it.”
“If you let Ollie come anywhere near you, I’ll kill him,” Lewis said calmly, but I saw the fury flash in his eyes.
“Why would you care?”
He scoffed. “Really, Callie?”
“It doesn’t feel like you care very much lately, Lewis. Do you …” I looked away, frantically blinking back tears. “Do you not love me anymore?”
Suddenly, I was yanked against Lewis’s body, his mouth on mine, his kisses bruising and desperate. I didn’t kiss him back. I was too confused.
He pulled away, eyes bright. “Of course I love you. I love you so much.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “Shit,Callie, I’m sorry. I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
Hearing the sincerity in his voice, I nodded. “Okay.”
“Aye?”
I nodded again but stepped out of his hold. “I’m going home. We’ll talk later.”
“Don’t.” He tugged on my hand. “Please, let’s go back to the annex. Don’t go home like this.”
“No, I want to go home.” It had been an awful few weeks and he couldn’t erase it with anI love you.
Worry furrowed Lewis’s brow. “Then let me walk you home.”
That I could do. I nodded and turned to walk in the direction of the bungalow.
Lewis fell into step beside me and took my hand in his. I let him. But I didn’t speak.
When we reached the bungalow, he stopped and kissed me again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please don’t be mad at me. I can’t stand it.” He kissed me again, and it was needy, yearning. “I love you so much.”
A little of my hurt and anger dissipated. “I love you too.”
Lewis groaned and wrapped his arms around me so my cheek rested against his chest. “I’m going to make it up to you, all right? I’ll never make you feel that way again. I’m an arsehole. I don’t deserve you. I’m so sorry.”
I locked my arms around his waist and shoved the fear I’d been feeling down deep. Lewis was here, he loved me, he’d merely been stressed. We were okay. “I forgive you.”
His relief was obvious. “Please come back to the annex with me.”
A flicker of movement at the front window told me it was too late. “Dad just saw us. I better go in.”
“Come to mine tomorrow?” Lewis pleaded.
“Okay.”
He kissed me again, hard, deep, apparently uncaring if my dad was watching. “I love you,” he repeated.
