Lainey: Doubtful.
Remington: I don’t lie, Lainey. That is something that’s important for you to know.
I will always be honest with you.
Lainey: You are a good man, Remington. These are officially my favorite flowers, no need to try and figure outif I like anything better.
I laugh at that. I might not know Lainey well yet, but I knewthatwas bullshit. You can’t pick your favorite flower after only seeing one option.
Remington: Beautiful ... I just told you I would be honest with you, that means you have to be honest with me.
Remington: You can’t pick a favorite yet when you haven’t seen all your options.
Lainey: ALL my options! Remington LeBlanc, you are not allowed to send me “all” the options.
Remington: Why not?
Lainey: 1- That’s impossible.
2- That’s crazy.
3- You will be bankrupt.
4- You don’t even know me.
5- I am not worth any of this effort.
I knew that cracking Lainey’s walls would be hard, but the first thing I needed to do was prove to her that she was worthy of my time, attention, and effort. How many people did she have in her corner to help take care of her, or was she always taking care of other people? This woman was drop-dead gorgeous but brushed aside any compliment I gave her. She tried to stop me from simple acts of kindness, fully thinking that I must have some devious, twisted ulterior motive. It pained me to know that the interactions and people that had paved the path before had woven this mistrust and lack of self-worth into Lainey.Fuck that.
Remington: 1- I can give you as many flowers as possible, one way or another.
2- I am very creative.
3- I minored in finance and am pretty good with money, so I am not worried.
4- Let’s fix that.
5- You are worth everything.
7
Lainey
Istare at my phone. He could not be a real person, right? There is no way possible that I, Lainey Quinn, found this gem of a man and he’s being this kind to me ... telling me that I am wortheverything. And it doesn’t feel insincere, slimy, or like some overused line to try and get something from me. Every interaction with Remington is different. I know that he’s genuine.
I have been my own worst enemy when it comes to men and relationships, always giving them too much credit when they have not earned it yet. I am a glass half full, believe in a better world, fairy tale love can happen kind of girl. I have seen friends fall in love and find their perfect match. It just doesn’t happen for me. I find the rotten apples disguised in candy coating. Poison that slowly drips into my system, making it too hard to feel because I’m in deep, numb and wanting to give the person the benefit of the doubt, while they are simultaneously whisperingdoubts about myselfto me.
It takes me too long to pull myself out of bad situations. I have the unfortunate life-experience receipts to look back on to confirm my self-loathing right now. This is not just a “onebad boyfriend” whoopsie. I am historically awful at picking the right men to have in my life.
When I met Remington I felt this draw to him, and I told myself it meant nothing. This had to be rose-colored glasses for the first person being a little bit nice to me after what happened with Brett. But deep down, I know I am wrong. There is not one speck of my body or soul that gets a vibe from Remington that says he is full of the deception or toxicity that I am used to. Every other man, even if I never wanted to admit it at the time or upon reflection, had red flags right off the bat. I swear to all the saints I am like honey to a bee when it comes to those toxic men. It is like they can feel the daddy issues, vulnerability, and need for more pouring off of me even when I try to lock that all in. And then they pounce.
I want to give, and they love to take.
And it’s always painful.
Leaving me with scars deeper than the skin, imprinted on my soul. Whispers ofunworthy and unlovablescratch through my brain on the most unhealthy record player of all time. So, when a man like Remington LeBlanc walks into your life, wipes tears from your face with strong, callused hands, and offers to help you out of pure kindness, then sends you flowers? He tells you he wants to help you even more, toknow you?
God,that is everything.
