Page 67 of Nothing To Lose
Isaac pushes himself up and guides me to turn over, scooting down and settling between my legs so his head is on my stomach. Lifting the fabric of my shirt, he kisses and nuzzles the area before laying his cheek flat against my skin. "We need to talk about the apartment."
I look down at him questioningly.
"We need to cut the budget for the apartment renovations until I can move some stuff around." He sounds apologetic, and I know it's hard for him to admit to any troubles. "I know you were looking forward to it. I promise we can still do it, hopefully soon, but I'm cutting everything non-essential for a while."
I still for a fraction of a second before shaking my head. "No, don't worry about it. This is my project."
"Ty–"
"No, Isaac." I push up on my elbows so I can look down at him. "You let me live here rent free. You take care of everything. I want to take care of this."
"I don't want you using that money to–"
"To what? It's my money, Isaac."
"Don't you think you should save it? Put it away for emergencies?" He holds my gaze with an almost pitying look. "I'm sorry. I just… You value money a little differently when you've never had it."
His patronizing tone is like a slap to my face. Isaac is the only person I've ever had in my life that didn't underestimate my intelligence or infantilize me. I know he's been stressed about money lately. Things have been tense. I overheard him talking to Mac and Anders the other day when they came to check in on us since we hadn't been byThe Nooksince Valentine's Day. He was talking about how the political climate is hurting small businesses, and that between inflation and the tariff wars, the cost of starting a business is becoming impossible to manage. I’m only just now realizing he hasn’t had those same conversations with me. Does he think I'm dumb, or just that I'm a spoiled little rich boy that doesn't understand struggle?
I school my expression, but not before he sees the hurt there. His face falls. "Baby.I didn't mean that to sound condescending. I know you're capable–"
"Do you?" I snap. "Because I hear abutcoming at the end of that sentence. Don't patronize me."
"I love you for you, not your money. I don't ever want there to be any question about that."
"So this is about what Guy said? I'm curious… Do you think I'm a desperate, attention seeking whore?"
"What? Of course not." He shoots up straight, looking far more offended than when Guy called him gutter trash. "Never."
"But you'll believe what he said about you?"
"It's not just him, though. Everyone from your world is going to think that. I can't ever be accused, you could never question me, if I never accept a dime."
I sit up and wrap my arms around his neck. "Isaac, I'd never question that. You're the most selfless, self-sacrificing person I know. You'd never take advantage of anyone, least of all me." I level him with a pointed look. "Letting people help you, letting them do their part, doesn't mean you can't do it on your own. You don't have to, though. We're supposed to be in this together, right?"
He hesitates, then swallows. "Yeah."
"So get over yourself. And let me have this one little thing. I promise I won't go overboard or anything like that. But Iamdoing it."
Threading my fingers through the back of his hair, I pull him down into a kiss. It's soft, lingering, and full of everything I can't quite put into words. I doubt sex is going to convince him that leaning on me isn't a weakness, to let me carry some of this burden with him, but I can show him how much I trust and love him.
Love.
Wait.
"Did you say…"
I think for a moment he'll deny that's what he meant, or deflect. It's way too soon. But he doesn't. Instead, he nods.
"Yeah, I said that."
"You love me?"
"Yes."
A soft whoosh of air leaves my chest.
"Good. Now show me."
