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“No, I…shit. I mean, shoot,” I correct, glancing at my seventy-five-year-old landlord.
“You had it right the first time. You’re in deep shit if you don’t go fix this with her. Whatever it is, my guess is you two need to communicate. Stop assuming what the other person means or doesn’t mean. Just say what you feel and let her see the good, kind, patient man I know you are.”
“I’m not sure it’ll be that easy,” I counter.
“You’ll never know if you don’t try,” she throws back at me. “Now, off you go! If all goes according to plan, she’ll move in with you by the end of the summer, and I’ll have an extra unit to rent.”
I shake my head at the scheming old lady, though I can't keep the grin off my face.
Stumbling out of the office, I turn to the right and bolt up the stairs, taking them three at a time. I stop short in front of Fawn’s door, catching my breath and gathering my thoughts. How did she become the most important thing in my life after just twenty-four hours? I don’t know, but I want to spend the rest of my life figuring it out. If only she’ll let me in.
SIX
Fawn
I slamthe utensil drawer shut, cursing at myself when my fingernail snags on the handle. Fine. Jensen doesn’t want to have lunch with me? I don’t care. I’ll make myself a totally not pathetic meal of canned soup, salted with my tears.
Spinning around, I stride across the kitchen in search of a bowl, only to trip over my suitcase. Perfect.
I lay in a heap on the linoleum floor, feeling the energy drain from me completely. What was I thinking? That Jensen and I would just suddenly fall madly in love? Maybe if I knew what I was doing in bed, but it was my first time. I thought he enjoyed himself, but–
A loud knock at the door startles me from my downward spiral.
Ugh, I really don’t want to deal with whoever it is.
Anotherbang, bang, bangrattles the door, and I groan, rolling onto my stomach and pushing myself up on all fours before standing.
I’m not sure who I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t Jensen. The big, confusing oaf.
“What?” I snip out, crossing my arms over my chest. “I thought you were going off to work.”Or was that just an excuse to get rid of me?
“I was,” he stutters out before trailing off. “I just… I think we’re both dancing around what happened between us, and–”
“And you’d like me to forget it ever happened,” I finish for him, swallowing past the painful lump in my throat.
“What? No, actually–”
“Oh, so you want me to be your fuck buddy?” I hiss out. “No strings attached?”
“No, if you would just listen to me–”
“You’d tell me how we’d never work out in the long run and try to let me down easy.”
“Fawn.” Jensen’s voice is deep and dark, a warning for me to calm down. As messed up as it is, a shiver of desire trickles down my spine.
I blink up at him, biting my lips as I wait for him to continue.
“I’m an idiot. I don’t pick up on subtle hints. You’re going to have to be clear with me from now on when you want something.”
“From now on?” I question. None of this makes sense.
“Yeah. If we’re going to make it as a couple, we have to communicate.”
“Couple?”
“Right, that’s what I was just saying. Now, about lunch–”
“Hold up,” I interject, pressing my open palm into his chest. “We’re a couple?”
