Page 144 of Interference

Anthony cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Look at us, Anthony,” I whispered shakily. “Look at how we crossed paths, for God’s sake.”

He furrowed his brow as if he were thinking about what I’d said. Then he half-shrugged. “Kind of seems like fate to me.”

“It… I mean, maybe? And don’t get me wrong—you’ve completely changed my life for the better. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say you saved my life.” I pushed out a ragged breath. “I can’t… What have I done for you?”

He stared at me as if he couldn’t comprehend what I was getting at.

I leaned hard against the counter and laughed uncomfortably. “I’m not stupid, okay? You’re a rich, beautiful athlete. You could have any man you wanted. And I’m…” I gestured at myself. “Look at me.”

“I am, and I don’t see anything lacking.”

I laughed humorlessly. “Come on. I’m broke as hell. My body’s a mess and my mind is even worse. I can’t function without Lily making sure I don’t lose my mind whether I’m asleep or awake. I can’t convince the VA I’m disabled but I can’t convince an employer I’m able-bodied enough to work.” I almost choked on my own words as I whispered, “You can do so much better than me.”

Anthony’s lips parted. “What? You think any of those things makes you someone I wouldn’t want?”

The words “No one else wants this shitshow, why should you?” stuck in my throat, mostly because I couldn’t get enough air moving to say them.

He reeled me in close and kissed my forehead. “You’re selling yourself incredibly short. Look at my ex, for God’s sake. He’s everything you’re worried you’re not—healthy, wealthy, employed…” Anthony drew back a little and waved his hand. “I’ve had a rich boyfriend who was in peak physical condition. Everything you’re worried about not bringing to the table? Simon brought it.” He shook his head. “And given the choice between the two of you? I’d pick you in a heartbeat. I was miserable with him because of all the things he wasn’t that you are.”

I swallowed hard. I wanted so, so badly to believe that, but it didn’t seem possible. Yeah, we were great together. We had a lot of fun together and we clicked really well. But life with me was not set to easy mode.

Before I could say anything more, Anthony cupped my face and pressed the softest, gentlest kiss to my lips. “You think you bring nothing to the table because life knocked you around before you got here.” He brushed his lips across mine again. “When I look at you, I see everything I could ever want in a man.”

My eyes stung, and I dropped my gaze because I couldn’t handle looking at him.

“Wyatt. Listen to me.” He cupped my face in both hands and ran the pad of his thumb along my cheekbone. “I don’t need or want anything from you that I’m not already getting in spades.”

“You don’t need or want all the bullshit, either,” I whispered unsteadily. “I sure as hell don’t, but it’s not like I have a choice about it, you know? You do.”

“You’re right. I do have a choice.” He claimed my mouth and made my knees go weak. It wasn’t a hard, aggressive kiss. Not the kind that would have us stripping off our clothes right here in the kitchen. No, it was the kind that said he knew exactly what he had and what he wanted, and somehow, both of those were me, and… fuck. I had to grab on to his shoulders just to keep from melting to the floor, and he nudged me back up against the kitchen island as if he knew I needed the support. As if he needed the support.

When he finally relented, I was shaking and he was panting.

“I do have a choice,” he said again, “and my choice is you. Hands down.”

“You, um…” I swallowed. “You make a very compelling argument.”

We both laughed, which got some air moving again.

Relaxing between him and the counter, I touched his face and kissed him, softer and lighter this time. “I don’t know if I can live up to what you deserve,” I said unsteadily. “But you better believe I’m gonna try.”

His grin didn’t help with my balance at all. Neither did that long, indulgent kiss.

“Maybe we should take this upstairs,” I murmured between kisses. “So I can get on that whole ‘trying to be what you deserve’ thing.”

Anthony laughed almost soundlessly. “Mmm, you don’t have to worry about that part. But I won’t say no to going upstairs.”

Well after the dust had settled and we were relaxing naked in his bed, Anthony was unnervingly quiet. He was still cuddled against me, an arm across my stomach and his head resting on my shoulder, but we hadn’t spoken in a long time. Though he was still awake, I got the feeling his thoughts were someplace else.

“Hey.” I combed my fingers through his hair. “You still here?”

“Yeah. I’m…” He exhaled and shifted onto his arm, pushing himself up so we could see each other. “Just thinking.”

I watched him silently.

His eyes unfocused for a moment as he seemed to gather his thoughts, and I just waited quietly for him to decide what he wanted to say. Finally, he met my gaze again. “I really want to do this with you. Wherever it goes, whatever happens—I’m in.” He laced our fingers together on my stomach. “But the secrecy…”

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