Embarrassment climbed into my cheeks. “I’m overcomplicating this, aren’t I?”
He shook his head. “No. I think you’re putting too much pressure on what to call this. So, why don’t we take things day by day and start there? We don’t need to think too far ahead and rush this.”
“So, no strings?”
God, this was so unfamiliar to me. I wish I could be more easygoing and flirty. Just because we spent one night together, that didn’t mean he was in love with me or anything, but it was reassuring that he wasn’t ready to toss me out the door.
“No strings, but not a fling either.”
“You really think it’s that simple?” I asked, feeling my throat tighten. I wasn’t sure I agreed with him. I was already feeling emotionally invested.
He pushed off the counter. “You’re assuming there’s only one way to do this.”
He wanted no expectations or complications. I wasn’t good at not knowing what was ahead. I needed to know where we stood. What if I got too attached, or our expectations didn’t line up? Those were real fears, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle that. The last thing I wanted was to become the girl who got swept up in something that she thought was bigger than it actually was.
“I just want to be smart about this. I don’t like wondering and not knowing. I’m going to be honest with you.” I licked my dry lips, hating that I was admitting this out loud. “Not knowing where this is going terrifies me. But that’s my problem. I like plans. I like knowing what something is. I’m the same person who reads reviews on everything before I buy it.” I tightened my fingers around my coffee mug. “I know logically I can’t force things and that I have to let them happen naturally. I think what scares me the most is that I might end up wanting more, and by the time I realize we weren’t on the same page, it will be too late.”
God, this was humiliating. There was nothing casual about me.
“Listen, I get why you’re nervous, but I think you might be getting a little too far ahead here. I’m not saying your concerns aren’t valid. Hell, you could be the one to break my heart.” He held his hand out for me to take, pulling me to his chest. “There is risk in everything. I think you need to decide if I’m worthtaking the risk. I already know that you are. While I might not be able to put a label on this yet, I know that I want to keep seeing you. Only you, Becca.” He rested his forehead against mine. “Do you honestly think I have time to date anybody else, or that I would even be interested in anyone but you? Hell, after the trouble I went to get you to stop pretending that you didn’t like me?” He shook his head. “Not a chance.”
“I guess I don’t know how to do things halfway.” I laughed. “And that’s not what happened. I never pretended not to like you. I was trying to keep things where they should be.”
His expression was careful and cautious. “You’re also somebody who is trying hard not to get hurt. There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect yourself. I know how your brain works; you want simple. You want predictable. You want answers.”
I glared at him. “You’ve known me for like five minutes. You don’t know me that well.”
I hated that he really did.
He laughed. “I’ve known you long enough. So, unless you believe I’m hooking up with girls in between games, film study, and trying to woo you…”
I smacked his chest and laughed despite myself. “Is that your way of reassuring me?”
He reached for my hand and gentled his voice. “You need to trust me when I tell you that you are the only one I want to spend my time with.”
His eyes held mine. I reached up and feathered my fingers through his hair. “That was a good pitch.”
He grinned softly. “Did I sell it?”
I gazed up at his expression. His teasing smile faded. “You totally did.”
“Good. Now, let me seal it with a kiss.” He dipped his head forward and dropped his mouth to mine. The second our lipstouched, all the doubts in my head faded away. My brain spun with all that had happened in the past twenty-four hours.
Kissing in the rain. Waking up in his bed. Breakfast waiting for me, and him giving me the reassurance that this wasn’t just a one-time thing. Not that I thought it was, but it was a relief to hear him confirm it.
Nate shifted slightly, brushing his thumb along my cheek. “Will you spend the day with me today?”
I tilted my head to the side. “What did you have in mind?”
“I thought we would wing it.”
“Nate.” I sputtered out a laugh. “I just told you that I’m not very spontaneous. I’m a control freak. I needed to know who, when, where, and how. I don’t like not knowing what’s coming.”
He nudged my hip with his hand. “You also said you trust me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not sure I can now.”
He smirked. “You trusted me last night, and everything worked out just fine, didn’t it?”
