Page 116 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
Shuffling in my fuzzy socks across the hall, I push open the guest room door and peek in. Where I’m blinded by a beam of light.
“What the—” Hand up to block it, I hit the light switch with the other. “Vance?”
His face lights up behind the glass, and he lowers his phone.
Fucking eye crinkles.
I may not look threatening at the moment in my oversized and threadbare Goofy T-shirt and florescent yellow panties, but my narrowed eyes and frown seem enough to dim the happiness in his eyes.
I should just flip him the bird and walk away. Walk away like he did to me.
Vance, either brave or stupid, points to the window lock.Tap, tap.
Sigh.
A second later I have the sash pushed up, and I’m looking down at him without any glass blocking my death glare. “What do you think you’re doing knocking on the guest bedroom window?”
My question wipes the beginnings of a hopeful smile from his face. “Guest bedroom?” He peeks over my shoulder. “This isn’t your room?”
“Nope.”
“Oh.”
When he doesn’t say anything more, I cross my arms over my chest, hiding my favorite Disney character in the hope that’ll make me more intimidating. “So?”
He shakes his head. “Sorry, yes. I ah…” His frown deepens. “Wow, I guess I spent so much time trying to track you down that I didn’t think of what to say when I found you.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.” I pop my hip. “Seeing as the last two times you did stop and think before we talked it didn’t go so well.”
He cringes. “Yeah. About that.” His breath blows out sharp and fast. “I know sorry won’t cut it, but Iamsorry. First for making assumptions about your feelings and ignoring my own. And also for leaving Heartbreakers after, well, after—"
“I said I was pregnant?”
“Yeah.”
“If you can’t even say it, I’m not sure what you’re doing here. And just so you know, in case you didn’t hear me at Heartbreakers, I’m keeping it.”
“Good.” He straightens on the ladder. “Iwantyou to keep it.”
“You do, huh?” He’d be an idiot to think I’d believe him.
“I know that’s hard to believe.”
Guess he’s not an idiot.
“But Iamhappy about the baby. I just needed to sort through some stuff.”
I lock down, the hope wanting to surface. Fool me once and all that.
“Words aren’t going to cut it, I get it, but that’s why I’m here.” His expression is expectant, like he’s waiting for me to grasp the obvious.
Whatever it is, I don’t get it. “On a ladder?”
His smile is as awkward as it is annoyingly adorable. “I’m Romeo-ing you.”
That surprises a laugh out of me. “That can’t have been your idea.”
“Brit’s.” He considers. “Well, Jacob and Jase’s idea really. Brit was the one who told me not to text you back but to show up.” He follows this with an eye roll, showing me that we’re both on the same page about how that turned out.
