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“That’s several years out. No matter how convenient it would be, I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.”
“I have a garage on my property. I could keep the GTO there until you have space for it here.”
“Jake. That could be years from now.”
My chest tightened. She didn’t see herself with me in the future. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Just trying to help.”
The age-old insecurities wrapped themselves around my chest, squeezing.
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but it’s not fair to you.”
“You sure it’s not about anything else?” I asked, feeling oddly vulnerable.
She tipped her head slightly to the side as she considered me. “What else would it be about?”
“You don’t—” I couldn’t say the words because I wasn’t ready to even think them, much less say them out loud.
Her eyes widened as if she’d just realized what she said. “Jake, are you asking about our future?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
“If you want something, tell me. I can’t read your mind.”
My chest hurt with the effort to hold back my feelings. Finally, I settled on something safe. “I like being with you.”
Her face pinched. “But you don’t see a future with me.”
I enclosed my hand around her upper arm. “What are you talking about?”
I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that she thought I didn’t see a future with us.
She stepped back from me, and my hand fell away. “I’m not your type. It’s not a big deal.”
“That’s not it.” That was exactly it. We were too different. From opposite worlds and families.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re saying you want something more with me?” Then she shook her head. “Don’t answer that. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
She was giving me an out. I should take it and run. But it didn’t feel right to leave her with the impression that she wasn’t right for me. “You’re perfect. Beautiful. Loving and kind. You’re too good for me.”
She smiled sadly. “You’re saying the same thing I was. Just in a different way.”
My brow furrowed. “It doesn’t feel the same.”
Her jaw had a stubborn tilt to it. “It is though.”
What could I say to ease her worries? I could tell her I wanted her. That sounded like I only wanted her physically, and that wasn’t the case. Instead, I opted for the truth. “I love being with you. Coming home to you at the end of the night. How you jump into my arms, trusting me to catch you.”
Her eyes flitted over my face as if judging my sincerity. “Are you saying you want this to be more than spending nights together?”
What was she asking for? “Can you tell me what you need? I’ve never been in a relationship before. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly and then closed. “I want a relationship.”
“Like boyfriend-girlfriend?” I asked, wondering how the words felt on my tongue. Not too bad. Exclusivity wasn’t the problem; it was the accompanying feelings that were overwhelming.
She nodded. “I want to go out with you. Spend time together outside of here. I want to see where you live.”
I hadn’t consciously kept her from my house. It just made more sense to drop by her place when I was done with work. “I can do that.”
