Page 68 of Beyond the Hate

“Sophia’s mom?” he asks as he sits in a lounger chair. He tugs on my hand until I sit on his lap.

“What are you doing?”

“Asking you about Sophia’s mom.”

“We always hung out at Lily’s house. Sophia was the only one of us who had a normal family life. Although, she’s been in love with her brother’s best friend forever. So maybe not completely normal.”

He brushes the hair from my face. “I’m sorry your home life wasn’t what it should have been.”

“Should have been?” I shrug. “It’s a waste of time to worry about what should have been. I prefer to concentrate on the future.”

“Good.” He nods. “Me too.” He toys with a strand of my hair. “And the future I want to concentrate on now is a future with you.”

I moan. “I should have known you wouldn’t let it go.”

“What can I say? I’m a man who knows what he wants. And before you ask, what I want is you.”

I frown. “You don’t want me. You want sex.”

“Beep!” He makes a buzzer sound. “Wrong.”

“You didn’t even remember ghosting me on a date until I reminded you.”

He fists my hair and tugs. “I’ve apologized for my behavior. You’ve accepted my apology. You can’t constantly bring up the past if you want to go forward in the future.”

I consider debating with him but I can’t. He’s not wrong after all. “You are correct.”

He chuckles. “And you couldn’t resent it more.”

I shrug my shoulders. “You’re pushing me into a relationship I don’t want. I’m allowed to be resentful.”

“Don’t want? If you can honestly tell me you don’t want a relationship with me, I’ll retreat. I’ll pack you up in my SUV, drive you home, and never bother you again.”

My pulse increases as fear spikes within me. No more Eli? No more coffee mornings? No more teasing each other?

He kisses my forehead. “But I don’t believe you want me to leave you alone. I think you’re scared.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “I’m not scared.”

Challenge sparkles in his eyes. “Prove it.”

“Stop daring me,” I snarl.

“Stop fighting me when we want the same thing and I’ll stop daring you.”

“Liar.”

He kisses my jaw. “Give us a chance, Lace.” He nibbles along my jaw until he reaches my ear. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

I wrestle with my answer. I want to say yes. I always want to say yes where Eli’s concerned. Even when I hated him, I was drawn to him.

“There’s no reason to be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“Then, say yes.”

“Yes.”

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