Page 50 of All Too Well
And just like that the conversation is over.
ten
Ainsley
Ican’t sleep.
I can’t stop thinking about the things he said about the girl I am.
He’s right. I never was a sit-back-and-wait girl. I was raised by a father who literally commanded a fleet and who demanded his kids be leaders.
I always tried to please the Admiral. I worked hard to get good grades and be the class president, editor of the school paper, and anything else. Accolades were what got my father’s notice. My mom could not have cared less. She stayed with my dad until he retired, and then she was done trying to be the trophy wife he kept on a shelf.
Still, I’ve always done what I can to make my parents proud.
Other than pop out a few grandchildren for my mom.
I get out of bed, grab my laptop, and head into the kitchen. On nights like these, the only thing that will settle my brain is to write.
In order for me to write, I must have sustenance.
Thankfully, on the way home from the dance competition, we stopped to grab some groceries.
I quietly open the cabinets, trying to see where he stuffed mychocolaty goodies. As I open the cabinet where I think it was, a bag of chips falls out. I freeze, looking around to see if that woke anyone. Not that it was super loud, but in the dead of the night, everything sounds ten times worse.
Nothing stirs, and I let out a sigh of relief and continue my quest for the contraband. I finally find it in the fourth one, and as I go to reach for it, the kitchen lights flick on.
I gasp, covering my mouth so I don’t scream.
“What are you doing?” Lachlan’s deep voice fills the silence.
“Trying tonothave a heart attack.” My heart is thumping. Jesus, he scared the crap out of me.
“Why are you up?”
“I was getting a snack.”
“At three in the morning?” he asks with apparent frustration.
“I didn’t realize snacks were time specific.”
He walks closer. “They are when you’re being loud.”
I crinkle my nose. “I wasn’t being loud. I’m as quiet as a mouse.”
Maybe a larger mouse, but still I wasn’t banging things around.
“Your version of quiet and mine are clearly different.”
“Or maybe you sleep incredibly light,” I say, offering another option.
Lachlan sighs and walks into the kitchen, reaching for the cabinet right behind me. I try not to let my heart speed up just a little at his closeness, but I’ve learned I can’t ever get a grip around him.
His bare chest brushes against mine, and I wish I had a freaking sweater or jacket on so my nips wouldn’t be pointing straight. As soon as he leans back, I cross my arms over my chest to hide that little hint at what I’m feeling.
“Come on, let’s go out back so you don’t wake Rose while you eat,” he suggests.
I stay here, not sure I really want to go anywhere other than in my bed, where I can contemplate my life choices.
