Page 105 of Strike Zone

“I love you.” I capture her lips with mine. My hands dig into her hair refusing to let go.

“Tell me you’ll stay, birdie. Tell me you want to start something real with me.”

“We’ve already started something real.”

I squeeze her tighter. “You’re right. We have.”

“But, I can’t go home with you. Not yet.”

“Why?”

“I have some things I need to take care of first.”

“Fiancé things? You can tell him to fuck right on off over the phone.” When she looks down at her lap. “You can’t be serious.”

“I never lied to you about my situation. You knew going into this what I was dealing with,” she fires back at me.

“I know but things change. I never thought that—” I start to say.

“That you could love me?” She tries to finish my thought but she’s a terrible mind reader.

I shake my head. “No, birdie. I knew I could do that. That was the easy part.”

“Oh,” she whispers. “Then what?”

“I never thought you would fight so hard against loving me.”

“I’m not fighting it. I…I’m having to figure it out as I go. That is not something I do. I plan everything.” She gestures wildly with her hands. “But I didn’t plan on you. This is all your fault.”

“My fault?” I rear my head back.

“Yes. Your fault.” She climbs off my lap and starts pacing the room. “You’re the one who wanted my help hooking up with Charlie. I never would have come up with something so silly on my own. Then you had to be sweet and thoughtful. No one’s ever treated me the way that you do. You and your stupidly handsome face with dimples. And that mustache!” She throws her hands up in the air.

I roll my lips to keep from laughing at her little fit.

“Stop. This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not laughing.”

She takes a calming breath and turns to face the wall. Her body hiccups and she sniffles. I roll off the bed and walk over to her. I wrap my arms around her chest and bury my face in the crook of her neck. “Talk to me, baby. Tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m…I’m trying my best here, Wyatt. There are things going on that I have no control over.” She breaks free from my hold and walks over to her dresser. After digging around in the top drawer she places a small box on top of the dresser.

“What is that?” I demand. “It looks a lot like a fucking ring box.”

“It is. When I went to see my parents.”

I spin her around to face me. “The least you can do is look at me when you tell me why you’re picking him.”

“I’m not picking him. Daniel’s dad is not a nice man. He’s threatening my family. I have to go home after graduation and settle things with the Abbotts once and for all. Believe me. I don’t like the situation any more than you do.”

“I don’t fucking like it all.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” she snarks. “I don’t know how long it will take. If you still want me, I’ll come to Alabama. Everything you said, I want that too. I want a life with you.”

“Baby, I will always want you. There isn’t any part of me that doesn’t beg to be in your presence. I want to help. We can both go to Georgia. I can help you pack and stop shaking your head.”

“You can’t be there. Then he’ll know I’m not going to marry his son. My parents will be there. They’ll help me.”

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