Page 160

Just be.

Just live.

That reminds me of Morgan’s advice to me just before I met Dalton.

Kiss a man just because you feel like it.

Yeah, look where that has gotten me.

Dalton uses his thumb to pull my lip away from my teeth and meets my eyes again with a soft smile. “One day at a time, yeah, baby?”

I release a shaky breath and nod.

Shit.

My heart is in my throat.

“Yeah, okay. One day at a time. I just…” I stop, turning to stare out of the window into the alley and he gently guides my gaze back to his.

“Just what, Lennon.”

I let out a sardonic laugh. “I’m a little out of my depth here.”

“That makes two of us.”

“Dalton,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t know how to be in a relationship if I’m not…”

“Proving your worth?” he asks, arching a brow. My stomach does a violent flip as I nod.

“Yeah. My mom… she taught me that my purpose was to serve others and I’ve been doing that my entire life.” I meet his eyes. “There is a part of me that knows it’s not right, not healthy. But… I don’t know how to stop. And I’m so afraid that when I stop being useful to you, you’re going to leave.”

“Lennon,” he whispers, shaking his head, his eyes still so very soft as he looks at me. “What did I just say?”

I release a breath, my body sagging against his touch. “Just be here and be myself.”

“Yes. That’s what I need from you, what I’ll always need from you.”

“But, Dalton…”

“Hey,” he says, cutting me off before he leans in and presses his lips to mine. I kiss him back instinctively, stunned by the sudden move. Unlike other kisses, this one doesn’t go any further but it’s enough to stop my spiraling thoughts. “What do you say we go home and take a shower? I’m fucking disgusting from the fight.”

I let out a laugh and lay my forehead against his shoulder. “Yeah, okay. I could use a shower.”

“Come on, baby.” He helps me up from the floor and my legs tremble beneath me.

Fuck.

What a goddamn night.

“Where is your bag?” he asks and I point to the duffel bag I grabbed from his house on the other side of the broken-down front door. It swings open, squeaking on the hinges and he winces. “Shit. I’m going to have to call Calvin and get that fixed.”

“I can’t believe you broke down my door,” I say, rolling my eyes and he turns to look at me with both brows reaching for his hairline.

“Lennon,” he drawls. “I saw you lying on the floor, looking unconscious or some shit so yeah, I busted the goddamn door down.”

I sigh. “Calvin keeps an extra key in that lockbox on the wall right next to the door.”

“Oh, shit,” he sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I forgot all about that.”