Page 17 of His Little Pumpkin
I smile, trying to keep my voice casual. “Oh? That’s great.”
There’s a tension in her pretty features. “Yeah. But along with the payment was a note of apology that sounded kind of…desperate.”
I wave her over to join me, sitting down at the table. “I will never lie to you, Laura. Yes, I made a call. An old friend of mine has a cousin in Oakton, and I asked had him drop by and tell the guy that he should pay you for your work.”
Her bottom lip wobbles. “Why… Why would you do that?”
I squeeze her hand gently. She doesn’t squeeze back. “I believe people should pay their debts in a timely fashion. If he wasn’t in a position to pay you right away, he should’ve said so. Or at least paid half. Not just drop off the planet like that.”
She nods silently.
“I’m also…”Do not use the word ferociously, even though it’s true.“Slightlyangry with him for putting you in such a terrible spot. I never want you to feel lost like that again.” I smile gently. “I want you to stay with me as long as you’re happy to, of course. But I don’t want you to feel it’s your only option. I want you to choose me.”
Laura’s teeth sink into her bottom lip, and it’s physically difficult to stop myself from leaning in and kissing her.
“Why didn’t you ask me before you did that?”
My eyes drop to the table for a moment. “I…didn’t want to disturb you while you were in the tub?” She doesn’t laugh at my weak joke. “You’re right, pumpkin. I should have. It just felt like… I dunno. One person correcting another’s bad behavior, man to man. That kind of thing.”
My chin lifts to meet her eyes. “Shoot. Now that I say it out loud, I realize I was wrong. It was your business, and I should have asked you first. I shouldn’t have interfered with your work. I’m sorry.”
Laura freezes for what feels like a full minute, simply staring dully into my eyes. Then she stands. “I have some work to do, back at…your house. See you in a bit.”
I jump to my feet. “Shall I pack you some food?”
“No thanks. I’m not hungry.”
She walks away. She’s careful not to slam the heavy door on the way out, but her quiet energy and careful methodical movements make me feel even more like a total asshole.
Yes, Laura is my sweet baby. Yes, I want to love and protect and care for her. But it has to be on her terms, with her decisions. Her boundaries.
I overstepped those boundaries by a country mile. And I’m not sure if we have enough of a foundation that she will be able to forgive me and realize that it was just one misstep, and that I’m not really a controlling guy.
14
LAURA
I’ve always been good at throwing myself into my freelance work if I’m frustrated and worried. So, on the plus side, I’ve gotten a ton of stuff done over the past few hours.
I take a quick break to stretch out my shoulders and make myself a cup of decaf. What am I going to say to Eldon when he gets home?
There’s a huge prickle running up and down my spine telling me that I should feel upset. Which I do. I’m just not sure why I feel like perhaps I should bemoreupset. I mean, I’m glad that I was finally paid. It’s just awkward to think about how that all shook out.
I stare down into my mug while pacing back and forth. I’m in Eldon’s kitchen. Drinking his coffee. Wearing clothing he bought me. If he’s doing everything for me, am I even allowed to complain about how he does it?
I don’t know.
Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely love the feeling of him caring for me. It feels like his heart and intentions are pure, too. Maybe it just seems awkward because I have no experience – both withrelationships, and with speaking up for myself and saying what I need. What I expect.
I would never have thought in a zillion years that Eldon would call in a favor to have someone go speak to Craig in person. No one’s ever gone to that much trouble for me before.
It feels… It’s hard to make sense of the feeling. A bit possessive? Maybe, but it doesn’t feel wrong. More like… I set the mug on the counter, since my hands are beginning to shake.
Like Eldon taking care of his girl. As if I’m really his, and he’s thinking about our future.
And…okay, maybe he interfered…but it was a good thing? It’s not like I’ll do more work for that Craig guy anyway.
It pointed out that I need to make a decision, though. Like, I need to decide if I’m staying before Eldon invests too much time and money in me.
