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“Uh-huh. You’re hilarious.” He narrows a playful gaze, huffing out an exhale as he reaches into his pocket, getting his cell out.
“What are you doing?” I question, sitting straighter as he continues to press on his screen multiple times, concentrating as he does.
“Booking you a hotel for a week not far from here. After that, we’ll figure it out.”
“You’re still banking on me moving in with you, aren’t you?” Igiggle, placing my head back against his shoulder.
“I’m not the kind of man who gives up that easily. You should know that by now.”
“Your tenacity is one of the things I love about you.”
His body grows instantly rigid, and he stares at me. Like he’s about to bolt.
Crap.
Why did I say that? He’ll think I meantlove, love.
The man didn’t even know what missing someone felt like, and you’re using the L word? Are you insane?
By the time I’m through yelling at myself, my pulse is so loud I feel nauseous.
“I…uh…” I try to explain. “I didn’t mean love as in…inlove.I meant, you know, the other way, like I like that about you.” I laugh nervously. “Not that I couldn’t love you, because I could, but we barely know each other, and you know…” I think I finally take a breath.
My face heats up while he just stares at me. Seconds pass, and he hasn’t said a word.
Okay, this is bad.
“You should see your face right now.” He bursts into a fit of laughter, and I almost collapse from relief. “I knew what you meant, Kayla. I’m not an idiot. I know you’re not in love with me.” Some emotion briefly flickers past his gaze.
Why did he just sound so sad when he said those last few words?
But I don’t question it. Instead, I play it off.
“Geez! Maybe don’t get all serious when I throw that word around.” My heart races so quickly, I try hard to mellow it. “I swear I thought you were gonna race out of here and never see me again.”
A crease forms between his brows. He cups my face in both hands and gazes deep into my eyes.
“Is that what you think of me? That I’d just leave you? I’d never do that Kayla. Never.” He pins his forehead to mine. “You don’t understand what you mean to me. You can’t,” he whispers. “And that’s okay. Because I’m glad you don’t. But you? You’re my whole world now. If you’re gone, so am I.” He kisses my temple before he steals my heart away with another searing look. “I don’t know what happens between us tomorrow or a year from now, but I’d never willingly leave you. I’m gonna be in your life until my last breath. Whether you want me there or not.”
Affection swells in my chest. “That’s so romantic.”
“Also, I should probably tell you I got us a penthouse suite.”
“Us?”
“That’s right.” He winks. “I’ll be staying with you. No way in hell would I let you stay in a hotel all by yourself.”
The back of my nose stings. Because I never truly knew what happiness felt like until this very moment.
The following day, I’m with Elsie and Jade out to grab lunch. They have been worried about me since I left on my very peaceful lakeside trip. I’ve managed to calm them. I know they worry I could spiral, especially since I’ve missed the last few appointments with Doctor Collins. But after that incident at my party, then the attack, I haven’t felt comfortable enough to return. I will have to face him later today and tell him I decided to switch to a new therapist.
I was going to tell Jade my concerns, but what do I have to go on? My gut feeling? What do I even say? “He was being kinda weird, and I don’t know, something felt off.”Wouldn’t be right to get him fired over something that is probably nothing. Jade did sayshe invited him to my party, so it’s not like he was there at random.
I will have to figure out what to tell them once I move to the hotel, though. They’re gonna find out from Terrence. I’ll need a reason why I’m moving. Maybe I can say someone broke in? But what if Terrence gets fired because of that? Michael will blame him for not doing his job. I have to think of something believable.
“You haven’t touched your burger.” Elsie looks at me, picking up hers, and takes a bite. “It’s so damn good. The bacon is cooked perfectly on mine.”
Jade picks at her salad, stuffing a piece of grilled chicken into her mouth. “Tell us more about that lake house. How was it? It was so out of the blue.”
