Page 28 of Happily Ever Never

“Tell me about it. I’m about tohave six nieces and nephews.”

“I can’t even imagine. But I saw how you are with them. Theylike you.”

“Thanks. I like me, too.” He winked and grabbed his bags.After I paid for my purchase, I suddenly found myself standing with him outsidethe bookstore. Alone. This wasn’t what I had expected this afternoon. What wasI supposed to do now?

He swallowed hard. “Anyway. I’m going to do something rightnow. And it’s probably a mistake. So don’t hit me, okay? Or,you can hit me.”

I blinked up at him, confused, and then he set down his bagsand pushed my hair back from my face.

I looked up at him, my heart racing. When his lips pressedto mine, I could barely breathe.

It was a slow and gentle exploration, a meeting of lips,barely a taste. An introduction. And then, before I could even figure out whatwas happening or contemplate his taste, his touch, his need, he pulled away andcursed under his breath.

I blinked, stilling at the sudden tension between us.

“What? What just happened?”

He froze, his eyes wide. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

I blinked. “Why are you sorry?” A thread of fear began toweave within me, but I told myself I was mistaken. He had been the one whokissed me. I hadn’t pursued him. I wasn’t making a mistake again, was I?

“I said I wouldn’t kiss you.”

I let out a hollow laugh, confused. “Oh. Who did you tellyou wouldn’t kiss me? No, maybe I don’t need to know. You didn’t want to kissme, and you did? Okay.”

With my bag in my hand, I turned, confused and not in themood to figure out exactly what he’d meant by what he said. He wouldn’t kiss mebut was forced to? What exactly had I done to make that happen?

“That’s not what I meant,” he said from behind me. I turned,confused and hurt. Wondering why I kept being soawkward. Because this would ruin everything. I didn’t want to ruin everything.

“It’s okay…whatever you meant. Whatever, Leo. Because I knowmy worth. It just seems like nobody else does.”

And then I left. I texted the girls that I would meet themlater and that I wasn’t feeling well.

It wasn’t a lie because I wasn’t feeling well. Iwasn’t feeling much of anything.

And that was it. No more sparks. No more wondering. No morefirst dates.

Never again.

I was done.

I would do my best not to make myself a liar. And figure outexactly what I’d meant by my worth.

Chapter 8

Leo

“I know my worth.”

I cringed, hearing May’s voice again, the echo never leavingmy mind.

I was such a damn idiot.

Not only had I kissed her after telling myself I wouldn’t,but I had then made her feel worthless because I apologized. Because I had toldher I couldn’t kiss her. What the hell was wrong with me?

She knew her worth.

Of course, she fucking did. Ofcourse, she knew her worth. She was worth far more than me. She was brilliant,caring, and beautiful. And here I was, kissing her on the street where anybodycould see and not even asking first. And then I made her feel like crap. I did not deserve her forgiveness. I hadn’t earned herreturn kiss.