Page 69 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘You sure about that?’

‘Fine,’ she admits reluctantly. ‘Maybe I didn’t get rid of you completely. God, Will. Do you know what a fucking mess I’ve been? Alex and I broke up around the time you disappeared and my family thought I was insane, mourning for a guy I hardly even liked. But it wasn’t him I was missing. It was you and with every flower delivery I missed you a little more.’

I dish up her food and set the plate in front of her.

‘I dunno if I can eat.’ She rubs her stomach.

‘Why not?’

‘I blame the tequila – not to mention my heart that’s on life support is slowly coming alive in your presence and giving me all sorts of awkward sensations I’ve never felt before.’

‘If you eat, I brought you a present.’ I reach over the bar, grabbing the gift and setting it between our plates.

She grins. ‘You brought me a gift?Why?’

‘Yesterday was your birthday, remember? Those usually have presents, so yeah. I was going to give it to you last night but the timing was off so I left it in my SUV and grabbed it this morning.’

‘That’s right!’ she says suddenly. ‘You weren’t driving your Jeep last night. Where is it?’

‘I sold it. I figured if I’m going for a new me, I had to change all of it. So, I bought the Range Rover while I was in rehab, and picked it up when I landed the other day.’

‘Oh,’ she says, her eyes on the gift bag next to her.

‘Open it,’ I say, then sip my coffee. ‘I know you’re dying to.’

Without wasting another second, besides popping a piece of bacon in her mouth, she tosses the lavender tissue paper from the bag and pulls out the box. She reads the back, glancing at me with her brows pinched together. ‘One for each of us?’

‘Yeah,’ I say, sitting my fork on my plate and taking the box from her. ‘They’re touch bracelets. You touch your charm, my bracelet vibrates, and vice versa. I, uh – well, confession time,’ I say nervously. ‘I know pretty much everything about you and Alex thanks to Bryce having a big mouth and being engaged to your sister, who also can’t keep a secret. Since I didn’t think you were exactly single, and you don’t owe me a second chance, I figured when I came back to do this, us texting or calling each other wouldn’t be something you could easily do without explaining yourself but I wanted to be available to you at all times so you know how serious I am about this.’ I glance at her once I’ve got her bracelet out of the box and on her wrist.

‘Now, keep in mind I’m not suggesting we have some secret relationship like before and you give Alex up just because I’m back. I thought maybe we could use these to ease back into being friends again. Disclaimer: this isnota booty-call bracelet, so all those dirty things you want to do to me, push them out of your head – for now – because I’m not here for the sex. I’m here to win back the love of my life.’

‘You still think I’m the love of your life?’

‘Always have. So, these are cool.’ I touch the bracelet charm already on my arm. ‘No one will know what they are, and if I’m thinking of you, I’ll be able to silently tell you, no words needed.’

‘Oh my God,’ she says, glancing at her now buzzing bracelet, then looking at mine. ‘That’s the bracelet I harassed you about last night. You were already wearing yours?’

I nod. ‘Truthfully, I was a tad afraid you wouldn’t want to see me at all, so I was prepared to leave the gift with a note and hope you pressed the button when you were ready to talk.’

She smiles sweetly, touching the charm, so my bracelet vibrates. ‘I love it, Will. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. I’m seriously here to prove how much I still love you however you need me to.’

‘I know,’ she says shyly. ‘I just need some time.’

I lean into her, resting my hand on her back and kissing her temple. It’s not awkward or weird. In fact, it feels pretty damn good to have her sitting next to me again.

‘Where are you staying?’ she asks after we eat silently for a few minutes.

‘A hotel not far from here.’

‘A hotel? Why?’

Her phone buzzes on the counter in front of her, and she frowns when she glances at it.

‘Shoot,’ she says to herself. ‘I forgot about this.’ She taps the screen, texting someone back, before setting it back down. ‘Alex has a game this afternoon, and that’s him, letting me know everything’s set for Liv, Gunner and me to go. I already told him I’d be there. I’m sorry.’

I blow out a breath, dragging my hand through my hair.

---