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It’s like a date.
Is that what this is?
Chapter
Forty
TRENT
I may have gone over the top . . .
The roof deck of my building is fully decorated.
It’s straight out of a romantic movie, with whimsical decorations and flowers, but instead of this being in the park, I built all of this on the top of my loft.
I googled how to build a canopy with the materials I had on hand, for fuck’s sake.
This is one hundred percent too much.
It’s also the first time I’ve spent real time up here, so my only memory is this. With her.
Payton is quiet for a beat. The clear city sky reflects in the blues of her eyes. They remind me of a day at sea, clear and wondrous.
I’ve made her speechless, and although this isn’t the first time ever, it might be the first time she’s not simultaneously planning my death.
“This is . . .”
“Over the top,” I finish.
“No. Well, yes. But, wow!” She looks awestruck.
“Wow, good?”
This is more self-conscious than I’ve ever been, and I don’t like it. But the novelty of it grows on me, probably because it’s with Payton.
Who the fuck am I?
What has this woman done with me?
“Wow, amazing! I can’t believe you did this.” Her voice sounds far away. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”
I let her take in everything in silence, not bothering her as she oohs and aahs over the details. After a moment, her small hand reaches out toward the picnic basket, and she traces the wicker with her fingertips.
“Why?” she finally asks.
“Why, what?”
“Why did you do this for me?” She meets my eyes. “Guilt?”
“No.” I shake my head, and she cocks her head as she assesses my face.
She’s scrutinizing me, trying to figure me out. I have no doubt she will. Even if I haven’t myself. Payton gets me. At first, I hated it. But now? I don’t know. I just know I don’t want to go back.
“It wasn’t really because of guilt,” I allow.
“Not really?” She lifts a brow. “That’s not a denial.”
Her nose scrunches, and I know she’s thinking about what to say. Whether she should be upset or not.
