I put her foot on the floor and held out my hand.
She took it, and I pulled her until she was sitting before me. Her face was only a couple of inches away from mine, and our eyes were locked on one another.
“I’m just treating you the way you should be treated. We were in a bar where we didn’t know anyone. You needed someone to have your back.” I paused and breathed out. “And I’m putting your shoes on because I know how you feel, and I’m mostly the reason for it, so I’m sorry.”
She leaned forward like she was going to kiss me, but I pulled back so it couldn’t happen.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea right now.”
“Why not?” she asked, looking upset by my rejection. Her cheeks were back to being stained red again.
I hated myself for not doing it. Fuck, I was an idiot.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I think things are complicated enough as they are. There’s no need to make it any worse.”
Her brows knitted together, and her next words were soft. “You don’t want to kiss me anymore?”
I shook my head. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” Her blue eyes wavered. I could tell I’d really hurt her feelings.
Fucking hell.
I took a deep breath. “I just want to make sure that it’s something you really want. I don’t want you feeling like you owe me. Or turning it into me owing you.”
I watched the expression fall from her face.
“Y-You don’t owe me, Oliver.”
“I do,” I said. “Money.”
She sighed. “I’m not a prostitute.”
“What?” I frowned at her. “That’s not what I meant. I wouldn’t pay you for sex. I meant that I owe you the money for this trip. That’s all. We’re good, OK? I promise. I’ll get you paid off, and you can do whatever it is you planned on doing. Live that new life. We don’t need to complicate things with kissing or anything else.”
“You’re right,” she whispered.
I sighed, taking in the way her plump bottom lip trembled.
“I’m just not…” My words trailed off.I wasn’t what?I had no fucking clue. Maybe I should have just said I was scared. That I wasn’t good enough for her. That she deserved better than me. Instead, I didn’t finish the sentence.
I watched her get to her feet and grab her bag. “Let’s go. You’re right.”
My heart deflated a little as I got to my feet. I guess I’d hoped she’d fight me a little. Tell me she wanted me since I was too much of an idiot to say it to her.
Instead, she walked to the door and gave me a smile over her shoulder. That smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, though.
“You owe me almost three hundred dollars now,” she said, pulling the door open. “If you’d have let me keep Kevin, then I may have given you a discount.”
She left me standing there, shaking my head.
The girl was sure… something.
Chapter 11
Amelia
Islept in the passenger seat while Oliver spent the day driving, just like he promised. Sleeping helped the hangover pass, plus I didn't really get much rest the night before. Even though I was out like a light, it wasn’t a restful sleep. I was exhausted, but at least I felt a little better after getting some food in my system. Not only did sleeping give me a break from feeling hungover, but it also saved me from some embarrassment.
