Page 74 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘Don’t do what?’

‘Pretend like you’re sticking around to “help me”. Besides the time you insisted you put in a security system, you’ve never stuck around or helped with the store. You’ve always been too busy helping yourself. It’s been twenty-four hours of you being back; how am I to know if that’ll last?’

Ouch. I mean, she’s not wrong but the words still sting a bit.

‘I made every wrong decision before. But I swear it, I’m in this now. I’m here because my heart won’t let me stay away, Berkley. Go on a date with me and let me prove it?’

‘Go on a date with you?’ she asks. ‘Are you totally dicked in the head? I’m sitting here right now because I needed to escape and—’ She stops talking, furrowing her brow. ‘Damn it, Adler. How am I supposed to date you with this guy waiting in the wings to one-up you at every turn?’ She motions to the TV screen, where Alex kicks the ball into the fucking goal like it was scripted to fit this exact moment.

‘Ugh,’ I groan, running a hand through my hair. ‘You think that’s what that was earlier? One-upping me?’

‘Was that not your guys’ “game” in high school? Without a doubt, this was him getting back at you for last night. He told Gunner he wanted to impress me and discourage you. Alex is very…well, he wants to be the most important person in every area of his life. I apparently am drawn to arrogance.’

I laugh to myself. ‘Youronlyflaw.’

She rests her hand on my thigh hesitantly. ‘I thought Alex and I would go on a date or two. I never expected it to turn into all this but I was lonely and he sometimes made me smile.’

I frown, mostly disappointed in myself. ‘Don’t be sorry; I totally deserve it. I just never wanted to lose you to that twat.’

‘You think you’velost? Need I remind you thatyouare the one who came home with me on my birthday and took care of drunk me. Alex didn’t even call or text to check on me after leaving the bar without saying goodbye and he was my ride.’

‘If you don’t love him, why not dump him?’

‘Technically Alex and I aren’t “dating” anymore, so I didn’t think a dumping was necessary. But how would I do that now anyway? “Oh hey, Alex, you’ve been cool enough but since my ex – the new and improved version – who fucked me over for years is suddenly back after breaking my heart repeatedly, I think I want to run back to him like I’m being chased by a serial killer, hand him what’s left of my heart and hope he doesn’t obliterate it until I have zero capability of ever loving anyone again.”’ She cocks her head, lifting her eyebrows as she waits for my response.

I grimace. ‘I wouldn’t use thoseexactwords,’ I say with a guilty grin. ‘But you’re right; I get it. That probably won’t go over well, knowing Alex. And if he hurts you, I’ll have to kill him, and then I’ll end up in jail, and we’ll have to start this all over in thirty to fifty years.’

She rolls her eyes playfully, crossing her arms over her chest.

‘For the record, I’m not here to obliterate your heart, Berx. I have all the pieces I took and I’d like to put it back together. Then once we’re no longer just a couple of broken hearts, maybe we can trade again? I’ll take care of yours, and you can take care of mine. Like we used to. Only, Ipromiseto better this time.’

The look on her face as she stares at me. Her lips parted, her eyes fill with… hope? She sinks further into my side. ‘That’s possibly the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me. But I’m gonna need you to prove it.’

‘Is this you giving me permission to go all out and try to win you back?’

‘Yep.Go all out. Do whatever it takes. ProveI’mthe woman you want to spend your life with. Yourentirelife, William. Not just a few weeks or months until the next big break comes for you. Choose me first; just don’t do it mid-soccer field, with cameras or a side dose of public humiliation.’ She stands from the couch.

‘Duh,’ I say like I’m not a complete idiot. ‘I know you better than that. I know you so well, I sprinted three blocks to get to you in a moment I knew you were mortified just to comfort you. You think that was the action of a guy who’s going to disappear in a few weeks?’

‘You should have done this years ago.’

I stand from the couch, taking the few steps to her, stopping right in front of her. Nervously, I reach up and rest my hand on the side of her neck like I used to, brushing my thumb across her cheek.

‘You’re right. I regret that I didn’t every day since.’

She stares into my eyes, finally letting out a sigh. ‘Against my better judgment, which is finally back after I attempted to drown it last night, you’ve got two weeks. I’m done if I don’t see what I need to see. I can’t waste any more of my time on you if you’re not serious.’

‘I promise, Berx, I don’t even need that long.’ I press my lips to her forehead. She leans into it, resting a free hand on my forearm.

‘Gawd, this is gonna hurt if you screw up again,’ she says nervously. ‘I should go. I promised Olivia I’d come back, and I need to deal with Alex.’

I don’t love the idea of her doing anything with Alex, but by ‘deal’, I hope to God she means ‘dump’.

27

BERKLEY

PDX ROYALS– DOUBLE STORY ALERT!

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