Page 47 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
He turns me towards him, a hand running over my cheek before tucking my loose hair behind my ear.
I lean into his touch and sigh. “Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time I’ve been called a slut.”
Theo’s eyes narrow in anger. “Excuse me?”
I can feel Lily watching us. Shrugging, I try to ignore the anger boiling beneath my skin. “It’s not like it matters, but yeah, people like to say dumb shit.”
Slut.
Whore.
That’s not even a drop in the bucket.
“Yeah, well, tell me who is running their mouth. I’ll fix it,” Theo tells me, his voice low and serious.
“I don’t need you to fix it,” I tell him, a little of my frustration weaving into my statement.
Lily clears her throat, clearly seeing the danger of sticking around. “I’m just going to…well, go anywhere but here.”
“I’m sorry about this,” I tell her genuinely, hating I’m the reason someone’s ruined our door.
She waves me off. “Don’t worry about the door. I have some paint, and we were never getting the security deposit back anyway.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. Her projects have resulted in more than one stain on the carpet and a wayward hole in the wall.
“I’ll check in with you when you get back,” she tells me then shuts her bedroom door. Lily knows my routine and reactions too well.
Once she’s in her room, I face Theo. “Don’t you need to go to the gym? I’ll text you later.”
I’m trying hard not to misplace my anger and take it out on him. I can’t even meet his eye, embarrassed by this whole situation.
“Henley.” His voice is soft but demanding.
“Please, just go. I’m going to go for a run,” I say as I turn toward my room.
He doesn’t leave. He doesn’t walk out that damn door. Instead, he follows me to the doorway of my bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I ask as I pull out a sports bra and a pair of shorts.
“Trying not to violate your privacy, but it’s really fucking hard when all I want to do is scoop you into my arms and be your safe place. I can’t force that vulnerability, though. So, I’ll just wait until you’re ready.”
He says it all without anger, just compassion and empathy, and fuck, I wish it were enough to squash the voice in my head, the one telling me I deserve this. Those names I’ve been called are exactly what I am.
“Yeah, well, if you’re waiting for me to break down or cry, you’re not going to get it.” My voice is harsh, but he doesn’t flinch.
“It’s not about that. You don’t have to be in tears or even be upset at all. I want to be here for you on the bad days and the best days. I’ll earn your trust eventually.” He doesn’t move from my doorway, leaning into it as he continues, “There’s no rush. I’ll be here.”
With a deep breath, I give him a rough nod. I want to tell him I want that too. To beg him to be patient with me. That I could give him that someday.
But the way he’s looking at me, I think he can read those thoughts in my head. So instead, I continue changing myclothes, not caring the least bit if he’s watching. I slip on a pair of running shoes and grab the arm band holding my phone.
“I need to run,” I tell him as I slip on my headphones.
"Then let’s run,” Theo says with a shrug.
What? He wants to run with me? “Aren’t you going to the gym?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Nope. My girlfriend is pretending like she doesn’t need anyone despite her shitty morning, and I’m stubborn enough to chase her until she accepts shewantsme.”
