Page 25 of Mr. Big Mistake
And chug.
And chug.
“You okay?” Kelly asked.
I shrugged. “I’ll get there, sure.”
“It’s not meant as an attack, Brenden. But, I also don’t think you understand how you come off to other people.”
“Well, I do now.”
She reached for her coffee. “The idea of having sex is petrifying to me. For anyone, that would be enough to go through with it. Just to get the fear out of the way and feel bolder proceeding back into the dating world. But, for me? It’s more. It finally feels like I’ve got control over that unknown part of me. I had control over it. Control Clint gave to me last night until you took that away. He gave me control, and you removed it.”
“I get it, Kelly.”
“Do you really, though? Because you don’t look like you do.”
I clenched my jaw. “I didn’t realize it would piss you off so much. I’m sorry. I really am.”
“So, who spilled the beans to you last night? My sister?”
“No, actually.”
“So, it was Karina? Or Zane? She told Zane?”
“I really don’t want to tell you who told me.”
She nodded slowly. “Clint said something.”
“I mean after we poked and prodded him, yeah.”
“How much poking and prodding?”
I closed my eyes. “We only asked him a question, and he answered honestly.”
“Ah.”
My eyes whipped open. “He is a good man. He’s an honest man. But, his honesty sometimes comes at an emotional cost to others.”
“I… don’t really know what to do with that information.”
“Kelly, you have to believe me. Last night wasn’t meant to hurt you. None of this right now is to hurt you, either. I just--.”
Her eyes found mine, and all I wanted to do was take her in my arms.
“I just wanted to give you time to make sure you were making the right call,” I said.
Her eyes grew sad. “What was your plan?”
“Does it matter?”
“More curious than anything. Say I went along and said ‘yes’ to you, what was your plan?”
I slumped back, defeated. “I was going to suggest that we make things as comfortable for you as possible. I figured that, if you really had waited this long, maybe the context of marriage might help things.”
Her eyes widened. “You were going to suggest--.”
“Not actually get married, Kelly. Come on.”
