Page 46 of My Promise To Keep

‘I’ve known you forever. I know we’re on different pages with this.’

‘I want to try this with you. I know we’ll work. I understand your worries. All I’m asking is that we can try.’

‘No.’

‘Munch.’ He groans and stands.

I follow, standing as though there’s a string tied between us, pulling me up with him. I stand in front of him, and he reaches his hand up to tip my chin, bringing his lips tantalizingly close to mine.

‘Leo, please, stop.’

‘Do you really not want this with me?’ He pulls back a little.

‘It’s not a question of wanting. I don’t trust that I can be enough for you.’

‘Zo.’ I see the furrow of his brow. ‘You’re way more than enough.’

‘You’ve been with so many women. Not one of them has been enough to make you settle down. I don’t trust that I can be, and I can’t settle for less than forever.’

I see him swallow hard, then close the gap once more as he lowers his voice. ‘I’ll give you forever.’

‘Leo.’

‘I’m going to prove it to you.’ He leans in and presses his lips to my forehead, then releases me, stepping back. ‘I’m going to prove you can trust me, Zoe. Just watch.’

‘Leo, please,’ my voice is a moan — full of disbelief. He can’t do this. I don’t want to let myself believe. Let myself hope.

‘Three months,’ the challenge is unexpected, and I jolt, my gaze finding his, ‘give me three months to prove that we can do this.’

‘Then what?’

‘Well, hopefully, then we make it official, tell our family, and start our life together.’ I inhale shakily at the thought, and he steps forward. ‘Just three little months, Zo, that’s all I’m asking, that you give me until Christmas to show you we can do this. If you still don’t trust me by then, I’ll let it go just like you asked me to.’

I wince, remembering the day I walked away from him and what could have been.

‘What are you asking me to do?’

‘Nothing, just live your life and let me do my part. Oh, and don’t date other guys.’

He grins, wide, mischievous, and I take a breath. ‘I can’t risk missing out on meeting the one because of a maybe.’

He smirks. ‘Honey, you ain’t going to meet the one on your little apps because I’m already right here.’

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the slight smile. ‘I’m going to still date.’

He presses his lips together and considers his next move.

‘Then don’t sleep with them. Please, Zo, give me that much. I’m going to show you that we can do this — just three months.’

‘You want me to go months without having sex.’ I went years without it, so three months is nothing.

‘Baby, if it’s sex you need, you know I’ve got you covered. I can give you what you need and more, and I know you have more than enough toys up there to get you through. Stop trying to build walls between us, munch. This is happening.’

I think for a moment. I don’t believe he can do serious, and the only way he can show me otherwise is by me taking a risk and letting him try.

‘I’m terrified of this.’

‘I know.’

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