“Daisy …”
“What, Landry? Do you want me to lie and say I’ve changed my mind? I’m frustrated, and I’m annoyed with you, yes. But it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped liking you.” I pause for a second. “That’s not how love works. And I’m sorry if my feelings for you are inconvenient, but?—”
“All right, enough!” he yells, pounding his fist lightly on the steering wheel.
I clamp my mouth shut and glare at him, surprised to see him smiling.
“I’m perfectly capable of putting my own foot in my mouth, if you’d give me a chance,” he continues while I cross my arms and pout. “But I’m trying to tell you that you were right. I have been refusing to acknowledge your feelings … and my own. And last night was only a mistake because I shouldn’t have allowed anything physical to happen between us before I was able to admit all that to you.”
“Oh,” I breathe as a glimmer of hope surfaces.
“I’m also sorry for leaving you alone and for all the dumb stuff I said—for being an ass in general. I don’t really think you’re silly or naive, and no one is more grateful for your ability to see the good in people than I am.”
“Thank you for that.”
He hesitates before he begins again. “The thing is, I’m still pretty confused. It turns out that the way I feel about you doesn’t exactly align with the rest of my beliefs. So I might need a little more time to make sense of everything, to figure out where we should go from here. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. Okay,” I reply in a small voice. He reaches over and opens his hand, and I drop my palm into his. “But, for the record, we are talking aboutromanticfeelings, right, and not just more of the friendly kind?”
“Definitely romantic.” He glances at me from the side and brings my hand up to his lips to kiss my knuckles, making me shiver.
“So it’s really the extent of these romantic feelings that you’re struggling with?” I venture.
“I guess you could say that.”
“If it helps, just know that I don’t have any expectations,” I tell him as he lets our hands fall to rest between us. His thumb strokes the inside of my wrist, and I have to clear my throat before I can continue. “You don’t have to commit to anything serious if you’re not ready.”
He laughs shortly. “More serious than marriage?”
“You know what I mean.” I smirk at him and give his hand a squeeze. “We based our friendship on honesty, and that’s something I never want to change. So don’t be afraid to tell me the truth, even if you don’t feel as strongly as I do.”
He heaves out a sigh and continues rubbing circles over my wrist as he exits the interstate and pulls up at the nearest gas station. Then he puts the Jeep in park and turns to face me.
“You’re not going to let me go without saying more, are you?”
I cringe. “I’m sorry. I can be patient, I promise.”
He smiles, looking nervous. “The truth is that I think you’re amazing. You’re like sunshine, so bright and full of joy. You’re also the only person in the whole world who gets me, who’s willing to meet me where I am.” He pauses and swallows hard before he continues. “When I’m around you—hell, every time I think of you—I get all warm and fuzzy inside. And that scares the shit out of me, because it’s never happened before, and because I never expected to like it this much. It probably sounds stupid, but I think I’ve been afraid to acknowledge the way you make me feel because I knew that once I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from acting on it. And I can’t bear the thought of letting you down.” He exhales in relief before he adds, “That’s what I’ve got so far.”
“Wow,” I say, my voice thick, and he laughs softly. I try to ignore the stinging sensation in my eyes, but they’re growing waterier by the second. “Landry Reed, are you telling me that I give you the warm fuzzies?”
He smirks shyly. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“I didn’t think you were capable of getting the warm fuzzies,” I say, chuckling and sniffling at the same time.
“Neither did I,” he mumbles under his breath. “But you’re giving them to me again … right now.”
“Oh, sorry.” My brow lifts and I tug my hand back. “Is this better?”
He stares at me for a full beat before he shakes his head. “No. You’re still doing it.” His voice sounds hoarse.
“Want me to stop?” I ask, smirking at him.
“Never,” he rasps. He reaches out and brushes his hand over my cheek, and I blink at him a few times as a wave of heat runs through me. For a second, I think he’s going to pull me in for a kiss. Instead, he tucks my hair behind my ear and continues gazing at me, looking more vulnerable than ever.
“I don’t know if I can give you all the things you want, the things you deserve,” he continues. “But the longer I know you, the more I find myself wanting to change, to at least try to be better, even if it’s just for you.”
I nod, trying to resist the urge to climb into his lap and ask him to stay there forever. His dark eyelashes flutter as his eyes dart down to my mouth. I watch his throat bob again, and I gulp along with him. “Thank you for being patient with me,” he says quietly, taking my hand in his again. Then he dips his head to kiss my wrist before pulling away and letting my hand fall.
