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CHAPTER SEVEN
Ava
I couldn’t stop crying, feeling like a heaviness had been weighing on my shoulders. I didn’t expect Brigham to show up at my apartment, wondering how he had even made it here in the first place, but I wasn’t going to be one to ask questions. I must look like a mess to him, that much is true.
Why won’t he just leave me alone? It’s for the best.
His arms came around me, startling me slightly but I allowed him to pull me close, resting my head on his chest. He moved us over to the couch, pushing aside my mess as he sat down, pulling me into his lap. My cheeks burned, trying to get out of his grasp but it was useless. His strong arms held me immobile, not budging for even a moment.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, the tears drying on my cheeks, feeling secure in his arms.
“Holding you.” He responded, gently running his fingers through my short hair, causing shivers to go through my body, feeling quite sensitive, “comforting you.”
“Why?” I mumbled, instinctively burying my face into his neck.
“Because I want to.” He growled softly, his soft lips brushing against my temple, “because I don’t like to see you cry. It makes me want to murder whoever made you like this.”
A weird feeling settled inside of me, and for whatever reason, I knew he wasn’t lying either. His words made me remember that I don’t know him very well, even if I feel very comfortable with him. But, I couldn’t do the right thing. I held onto his shoulders, not wanting to let go. I wanted to revel in this feeling, to savor this attention.
“It was stupid.” I admitted, shaking my head slightly, feeling like I was being dumb for letting their words get to me, “I shouldn’t have even let it get to me, but I just couldn’t help it. After the abandonment from my parents, it was just hard to believe in myself, and in others. My friend and her family took me in… but she’s not always the nicest to me. She doesn’t believe that a man like you could ever have good intentions with me.”
The words just flew out before I could stop them. Unfortunately, it was too late now to change anything.
“She’s not wrong in a way,” Brigham admitted, causing me to freeze.
I pulled back, staring at him with wide eyes, “what do you mean?”
His jaw was clenched, but he met my eyes straight on, “going to that club, I had every intention of just finding a woman for the night. I don’t do relationships, I don’t do commitment. I had every intention of taking you home and having my way with you.”
It was like a punch to the gut, originally thinking that he had felt the same way that I was, but I needed to ask, “why didn’t you?”
Brigham sighed, “well, we sat down and I got to know you a little bit… and I enjoyed it. I’ve never sat down with a woman and just had a pleasant conversation. It was all about sex, and getting out of their homes. I’m not going to even lie to you, Ava, commitment scares me because of what I do, because there’s a big possibility that I could hurt them without even trying. It’s just inevitable.”
My heart was pounding in my chest, feeling like my nerves were running wild, “I - I don’t want just a one-night stand or anything like a fling, Brigham. I… I have too much respect for myself.”
“I know.” He agreed, resting his forehead on my shoulder, confusing me at his tenderness, “you don’t have to believe me, but the moment we met… I knew there was no turning back.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, wondering if I could believe him.
“You don’t have to believe me,” He murmured, a softness in his voice that touched my core, “but it’s the truth. Now, would you like to get ready to go on our date? I would still really like to.”
I nervously chewed on my bottom lip, wondering if I should trust him. It was a little reassuring that he became so open about what he had originally wanted, but what if he changed his mind? What if he decided that he only wanted a one-time thing? I don’t think my heart could handle that. But, I decided to trust my gut and take a chance.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
