“You thought what, sweetheart?” he asks softly.
I drop my head, ashamed that I assumed the worst of him.
“I thought you’d gone out and found someone else to…spend time with,” I mutter quietly.
There’s a beat of silence, allowing my shame to burn even hotter.
“Jesus, Bea. Didn’t you hear a word I said to you back there?” I don’t look up, but I know he’s glancing over at my mirror. “Imeant everything I said. I went out to get you some things to help you feel as beautiful as I see you.”
I drop my head into my hands. “I’m sorry.”
His arm snakes around my shoulder as he pulls me into him.
“Shush. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry I stormed off and let you think I was mad. I was just…if I stayed longer then…fuck, Bea. I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself.”
I squeeze my eyes closed, because it’s getting harder and harder to deny that I didn’t want him to.
Neither of us says anything else, and his hold on me never lessens.
“Are you hungry?” he finally whispers, his lips against my hair.
“We already had dinner,” I remind him.
“Exactly. We didn’t have dessert.”
I pull my head from his chest and look up at him.
The softest smile plays on his lips, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make my chest tighten.
“What are we talking …”
“What if I were to say I went to the waffle shop?”
My stomach growls right on cue, my mouth watering.
“I’d say, I hope you didn’t get ice cream on them, because they'll be a melted mess by now.”
He chuckles. “I’ve got it all under control,” he says, finally releasing me and pushing to his feet. “Did you want to try all this on first or?—”
“Waffles,” I blurt before racing past him and out to the kitchen where I find another bag waiting. “You got hot chocolate, too,” I cry when I pull the lid off one of the takeout cups. “Oh my god,” I breathe as I take my first sip of the rich, chocolatey goodness. “I think I love you,” I add before going for more while Rett pulls a tub of ice cream from his freezer to finish off our feast.
He freezes as my words hit him, and I do too. But he quickly recovers as if I never voiced them. But while he might be able to ignore them, I can’t help but wonder if they’re entirely too true.
Everything I’ve learned about Everett is so far removed from the man I thought he was that first night. Okay, sure, he’s still arrogant as hell, but now I know that it’s a cover for the sweet and thoughtful man that hides beneath.
“She wanted to book us in first thing in the morning so you can select more items, but I said that wouldn’t work for you. So we’re going after you’ve finished work.”
“She? Uh…what?”
“The store where I got your clothes. I told the manager you needed an entire wardrobe, but that you’d want to choose the rest yourself. So we’re going back tomorrow evening. Have you seen their baby furniture? It’s stunning.”
I gawp at him. “I know everything in here is dark, and they do have a walnut range which would fit in perfectly, but for some reason, I really loved the white range.”
“You…” I shake my head.
“What? We’re going to need all that stuff. I know it’s a while away, but there’s no harm in looking and making plans.”
My stomach knots at what those plans will entail. Will I even be living here when that time comes, or will we have separated by then? Will all this be over? One thing I know for sure: I won’t be moving back into my apartment.
