Page 26 of Worshipped by the BRATVA Grump

I nod, feeling like this is a break up when as far as I know we aren’t even together to begin with. My hand goes to my pocket, feeling the ring there and my chest feels that pang of pain that I’ve been having more often recently.

“But, this last week without you has felt strangely empty, and I realized that maybe your intensity is something I can get used to if it means my life is fuller, richer. Because it is, when I’m with you. Fuller I mean…”

She is rambling, and I didn’t know how much I missed it.

“But if you’d rather not, because I’ve been quite flighty and all, I understand that too. But I need you to know how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me with this shop. And the hospital care after the crash…and the other stuff… you know.” She blushes, immediately telling me what she means, and I can’t help the tug at the corners of my mouth.

“Anyway, that’s it, I suppose.” She laughs. “That’s all the words.”

I put my glass down and pull her against me. Without any words at all, I kiss her, wrapping one arm around her waist and letting the other one go to the back of her neck.

She moans into my mouth, bringing her hands up to the lapels of my jacket and tugging.

When we pull apart, I pull the ring from my pocket and hold it out to her.

“You don’t have to marry me,” I start, my own words making me feel sad, which isn’t something I’m used to. “But I bought this for you and would love for you to accept it as a gift, a congratulations on a successful opening, if nothing else.”

She looks at it for a long while, then looks up at me.

“And if I want it to be an engagement ring?” she asks.

“Then it one-hundred-percent is.”

She holds out her left hand and I slide the ring into place. It’s almost a perfect fit.

“It’s beautiful,” she says, quietly, before looking up at me.

“I bought it the day you told me you didn’t want to be with me. I saw it and immediately knew it was for you, even if I couldn’t be with you.”

“Oh,” she says, looking at it again.

“I guess I didn’t consider how intense I am. I should have paid more attention. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too for being such a chicken. It’s not that I don’t want a future with you, because I do. It just all felt too much too soon.”

I nod. “I promise to take things steadier and check in with you in terms of my intensity.”

“I promise to take a second to breathe before running from you when something scares me.”

“I promise not to let anyone hurt you because of me.”

“I don’t think you can promise that, but as long as you’re by my side afterwards, I can deal.”

I stroke my thumb down her cheek, then push the hair away to see what’s left of her headwound. There’s a small scab and a tiny bit of faded bruising, but otherwise she is fine.

“How’s your leg?” she asks, moving away to switch off the lights and shut the shop down for the night.

“Okay,” I say with a shrug.

“So it’s not going to hold you back from any sort of activities,” she says, looking at me over her shoulder.

I watch her as she walks towards the door, her ass hugged perfectly by her dress.

“Absolutely not,” I say, following her into the night.

Epilogue

Daisy