“Levi, what is this? What are you really playing at? I can’t dump you because we’re not even dating, so I don’t know what else you want from me.”
“Tomorrows.”
“Huh?”
“I want all your tomorrows, Tab.”
Her jaw sets. “That’s cruel.” She snatches the washcloth out of my hands and places it over her eyes.
Okay, this is not how I wanted this to go.
Seeing her lying there, ignoring me, makes me angry. I snatch the washcloth back. “I like you, and I’m going to woo you until you realize I’m sincere. You are mine, Tabitha Riley, but most importantly, I’m yours.”
She blinks at me. “You’re out of your damn mind, Levi. You can’t come walking up my fire escape one night and demand me like a…like a barbarian.”
“The hell I can’t.”
“Leave.”
“No.”
Her eyes widen. “Levi…”
“You’re it for me, baby.”
“You don’t even know what you’re saying.”
“Like, comprehensively? I understand everything that I’m saying. I actually received good grades in school. Best GPA on my high school football team.”
“I won’t have a normal life,” she blurts out, chest heaving. “I’m still not done with surgeries. Chances are my skin will never look normal again. I can’t show up to fancy football dinners or walk the red carpet with you. I’m…damaged, Levi. Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.” Her eyes fill with tears. “You’resweet. You deserve someone who’s going to make your life easy. You probably won’t find her on that dating show, but you’re definitely not finding her in this room.”
I stare at her, my heart breaking. How could she ever think she’s the problem? Like somehow being with her will make life worse. “You don’t see yourself correctly.”
Her jaw locks. “I’m trying to be nice, but if you want to go there, let’s go there. You just, what? Decided all this when you saw me at the café? On a whim, I’m suddenly your happily ever after? After one semi-intimate moment, you’re going to bang your fists on your chest and claim me? Trust me, I’m saving us both the heartache because tomorrow you’re going to see some pretty girl walk by without all this baggage and you’re not even going to remember this conversation.”
“You’re questioning my loyalty?”
“Yes! Loyalty is earned. It’s not something you wake up one day and decide on. Micah was right, you really are immature.”
Her words cut, but the way she flings these insults makes me understand how much she’s hurting. “You can call me whatever you want, but I’m not leaving, or stopping my pursuit of you, and I’m certainly not going towake up one dayand realize that it wasn’t you all along. You’re not a mistake, Tab. You’re end game.”
“Pretty words.”
“Fine. You want more than words? You’ll get it.” I lean over and kiss her forehead. It’s not only to kiss her goodbye, it’s to see if she’s still hot, but she’s much better. I couldn’t bear leaving if I thought there was something wrong with her. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Tab. There’s a game this weekend, I’ll grab you tickets.”
“Levi, I haven’t gone out since the fire.”
“Then it’s about time you did. Of course everything is going to look bleak from inside this room.”
“So you’re a psychologist now?”
I give her a grin. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Doubt it.”
Well, that sounds like a challenge, and I never back down from a challenge.“We’ll see.” I stride to the window and heave it up. “Lock this after me, Tabalicious.”
I crawl through the window, close it, then turn and wait. She stays in bed, but when I won’t leave, she pulls her robe tight and stands, striding toward the window and locking it.
