Laney was happy, looking beautiful in my shirt, and kept leaning her head on my shoulder.
Her mom yawned, covering her mouth as she eyed the clock. “Oh my, I’m gonna head upstairs to bed.”
“It’s only nine, woman.” Her dad laughed, but then they did a silent communication thing where her mom glared, he glared back, then she arched a brow, and he stood.
“Yup, I’m tired too.”
Laney snorted. “Be more subtle, please.”
“Subtle? About what?” Her mom winked and picked up the cards, placing them on a side table. “You two hang out. Talk. It’s just really nice seeing you both so happy.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Laney’s voice was soft and genuine, and she somehow snuggled closer to me without sitting on me. Disappointment hit me at the night ending. I wasn’t ready to go back to the silent house next door.
“You sure you both can’t handle another round?”
“No, dear.” Her mom grinned and jutted her head upstairs. “We’ll be up there. Hopefully, we’ll see you again soon, Connor.”
“Absolutely.”
Her parents went upstairs, leaving us alone. Her mom’s comment had to mean something good. If they wanted to see me again, that meant Laney wasn’t saying how awful I had been the last few years.
“That was fun,” I said, slowly standing so Laney wouldn’t fall down.
“Are you leaving?” Laney frowned and wrapped her arms around herself. Her gaze seemed sad, like she didn’t want me to leave.
“The night is wrapping up.”
“Yeah, but…” She stared at me a beat before sighing. “You need to go back and work, don’t you?”
“No.” I frowned. Was I playing this thing wrong? Was leaving after dates, giving her space, the wrong move? “Is that what you think I’ve been doing all these nights?”
Her eyes flicked to me, questions and doubt swirling in them. “You don’t tell me anything about work. Petra hinted at something today, and it hurt to not have any idea what she was talking about. And you always leave after we have a great time.”
“Honesty,” I whispered, my heart racing at how my plan had backfired. I crouched back down so we were eye to eye.“I want to surprise you with the changes, and they aren’t ready yet. I didn’t want to get your hopes up for something in case it didn’t happen.”
“I appreciate that, sure, but you used to run all those ideas by me at the start. It still feels like you’re cutting me out of the conversation. I know you run the business, but I liked when it felt like we were a team.”
Fuck.
I plopped onto the chair, gutted. I thought we were doing better. I thought we had made progress, and the worry that she could still ask me to sign the divorce papers was dwindling, but now the doubt fired right back.
“Laney, honey, I’m sorry. I never realized you would feel that way about it.”
“Honesty,” she said, swallowing. “I should’ve told you sooner.”
I nodded as she moved closer to me, running her fingers through my hair. Her touch felt so good, and I closed my eyes, leaning into her. She used to do this while watching a TV show, and every single time, I’d pass out.
“Why have you been leaving these past few nights after we have such a good time? If it’s not to work, then what do you do?”
“Literally replay the night and think of ways to make you smile the next time,” I said, keeping my eyes closed as her fingers made circles on my scalp. “I thought I was doing what you wanted, keeping my distance, dating you. Did I… play that wrong?”
Her fingers stilled, and I glanced at her. A blush covered her cheeks, and she cleared her throat. Now I was desperate to know what she was thinking. I knew that look.
“What if I don’t want the dates to end?”
The disappointment zapped out of me. “I don’t want them to end either. I hope you know I mean it when I say I want to spend every second with you.”
She smiled. “So… are you going back to the house alone or…”
