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“Yes. I promise I will. Let’s go sit down.”
She walked over to one of the couches, and I sat beside her.
“I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I really didn’t, and I need you to believe that. Everything happened so fast when I first met you. We met, had dinner, had sex, more sex. I was staying the night at your place. You were staying at mine. I invested in your bakery and gave you the code to my front door without even thinking twice about it. Then, when Simon called you my girlfriend on the boat that day, I freaked out. I used you telling the girls about the boat as an excuse.”
“Why?” she asked.
“I guess I was protecting myself. I told you before that I’ve been burned by women. Someone I truly cared for lied to me about a trip she was going on with her girlfriend. Come to find out, when I went to pick her up at the airport, as a surprise, she was with another man. Then, there was my mother, who lied to me my entire life about my dad. I know why she did it, but a part of me still felt betrayed. Especially since she knew I had two siblings in the world. I’m trying to say that I have internal struggles that I’m dealing with, just like you are.”
“I don’t have any internal struggles. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She looked away from me.
I reached over, cupped her chin, and turned her head so she was looking at me. I prepared myself to get slapped for touching her.
“You’re a liar.” I smiled.
She gently removed my hand and sighed.
“Okay. I may have a few internal struggles.”
“All I want is for us to be raw and open with each other, Zoey—the total truth. So, I’m going to ask you a question, and I want an honest answer.”
“What?”
“What did you mean when you told me that I did myself a favor that day in your shop?”
“I never get involved with anyone for longer than six months. Even six months is pushing it for me. When I start to get comfortable and life seems good, I run.”
“Why do you do that?” I asked.
“Because then I won’t be disappointed. You know I barely grew up with a mother and father. My mother barely came around. When she did, she left just as quickly as she came. My dad had me for six months before he left—oh my, God.” Her eyes widened. “That’s where the six months comes into play. I never figured that out before. That’s why I get all cringy when it rolls around. Instead of waiting for the shoe to drop on my life, I get the hell out of dodge before it can.”
“See what having a good talk does?” I grinned. “It helps you realize things you never thought of before. You were so close to your grandparents, though.”
“I know, and I loved them both more than anything. But their love wasn’t enough to erase the fact that my parents abandoned me.”
“So that’s what you meant when you told me that you would have walked away in six months.”
“Yeah. That’s what I meant.” She looked down as she played with her hands.
“Zoey, look at me.”
Her eyes darted up to mine.
“I miss you like crazy. I’ve never missed anyone like this before in my life.”
“Not even the woman who cheated on you?” she asked.
“No.” I breathed out a laugh. “Not even her. I want to be your Ben and Jerry.”
She put her hand up. “Hold on there, Kind?—”
“Just listen to me.” I smiled as I interrupted her. “I want to be the one you run to when you’re feeling stressed. I want to be the one to comfort you and tell you that everything’s going to be okay. I want to help you heal and to forget the six-month shit. I want you to find comfort in me and be okay with it, not scared. I’m not going anywhere.” I brought the back of my hand up to her cheek. “I love you, Zoey Morgan. I’m so in love with you that I no longer fear anything, and I one hundred percent trust you.”
“You shouldn’t,” she said.
“Too bad. I do.” I smiled as I softly stroked her cheek. “Do you trust me?”
“Unfortunately, I do.”
