In fact, the people who said things like that were probably the ones who needed it most.
“It means I’m not falling in love with anyone again,” he said.
“Do you know you sound like a million love songs when you say that?” I teased.
“It never works out for me,” he said, unfazed.
“Now you sound like a sad love song.”
“Maybe so. But I’m not sad. Just realistic.”
“Nope,” I said. “Notrealistic. I already told you. You just keep falling in love with the wrong people. That’s all.”
“That’s all, huh?”
“Yup.”
“So who’s the right person?” His eyes moved over my face. “You?”
And when he looked at me like that, my heart beat heavily in my chest.
I swallowed. “I can’t tell you how to feel about me, Ashley. But, I mean, if you’re asking me… Yeah, I’d say I’m pretty lovable. As lovable as the next girl, anyway.”
“I wouldn’t say that’s true. Some people are far more lovable than others.”
“But how lovable can they really be, anyway, if they don’t love you back?”
“I guess it’s irrelevant. I’m not interested in falling in love.”
“What are you interested in?” I asked him.
“Music. Getting this band off the ground.” His gaze moved to my lips and then sought out my eyes again. “You.”
Oh, that felt good. I felt the flush through my entire body and that dizzying whirl of butterflies.
“Okay. So… let’s not fall in love, then,” I said, my voice soft in the night.
“Okay,” he said.
“Like don’t even think about falling in love with me.”
“I won’t.”
Liar.
He was such a good liar. Very practiced.
But I saw through it.
“Okay,” I agreed. “I won’t either.”
He stared at me, absorbing that.
Then he reached for me. He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to him for a kiss.
And then another kiss…
And another.
