Page 148 of Innocent Intentions

“There’s no place setting,” I whisper. Any louder and I’ll cry again.

“Well of course there isn’t. You two are having dinner on the terrace. Matthias set the whole thing up. Woke up early just to tell me exactly what he wanted. He was very particular. Said he wanted everything perfect. And I quote, ‘This will be the first date of many to erase all hershittyones before me.’” She shoots me a look that says I’m being absurd. “It looks beautiful up there. Dinner will be ready soon, so wipe those tears, and off you go.”

Well, how the hell was I supposed to know?

Drama Queen. You’re in here bawling your eyes out while he’s upstairs setting up your date.

I don’t even try to play it cool. I thank Dotty and take off. I’m running up the stairs like my life depends on it–

For five steps before you got out of breath, lazy.

I stop at the terrace door, suddenly realizing I should’ve taken a minute to compose myself. I’m still a mess. But now I’m a sweaty mess. A wheezing, flushed mess. God, I hope I don’t smell.

Wait. She said date.

Date.

I need to change. And shower.

I take a step back and immediately trip.

I fall with a loud thump. With zero grace.

I let out a startled scream as I smack the ground.

Perfect.

Before I can recover, the door swings open. Matty appears, and his smile crumbles the second he sees me.

“Sweetheart, what happened? Are you okay?”

He crouches in front of me, eyes scanning for injuries. I checked myself too. I’m fine, just embarrassed.

“Sweet girl, please don’t cry. Tell me what hurts.”

“I’m okay, Matty. I just tripped.” I mumble.

His brows furrow. “Sweetheart, you’ve been crying. What’s wrong? Do you need a doctor? I can have the Syndicate doctor here in thirty minutes.”

He’s already reaching for his phone.

“No, baby. Don’t call the doctor. I’m not crying from the fall.”

He pauses. “Then why are you crying?”

“It’s stupid. I was overreacting. Just forget it.”

“Margot.”

The use of my first name makes me crack.

“You didn’t bring me coffee. Then we didn’t eat lunch or walk Benny together. Then I get to the dining room, and therearen’t any place settings. I thought… I thought you changed your mind. That you were done with me. I thought I messed up.”

A tear slips out. He catches it before I can.

Then he pulls me into his arms and tucks my head against his chest like he never wants to let go.

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I wish you would’ve told me. I got up early to plan this evening and worked through lunch just so I’d have time to set it all up. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you’d notice, and I definitely didn’t think you’d think I was ending things.” His voice goes soft. “There is no ending things. This is forever. I could never be done with you. And if you still doubt that, then I clearly haven’t done enough to show you. Tonight is my next step.”

---