Page 65 of I Choose You
“What’s the story with her? The ex,” I clarified.
“How did I know that you were going to ask that.” He got up from the couch and took his plate with him. A moment later, he was back with another piece of pie and the can of whipped cream. He added a dollop to his plate and held the can out for me, his brows raised in a silent question. I held my plate out to him, and he squirted a generous helping over my pie. “We dated for a long while, then we broke up.”
I rolled my eyes. Okay, he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.I got it. I added it to my list of reasons we shouldn’t start something between us. It was probably better that way. I was starting to forget the rest of my reasons, even though they made sense to me at the time. Being around Reid, especially when he was flirty or half-naked, made it harder to remember why they were so important. But knowing Reid wasn’t over his ex yet, that was a valid reason to give him space.
“I can see your wheels turning in that pretty little head of yours. It isn’t a big deal. Don’t overthink it.”
“You said you almost got married. It sounds like a big deal. But if you aren’t ready to talk about it, that’s fine.”
He sighed. “Kayleigh and I were together for seven years, from our senior year of high school until last summer.”
“Wait. Kayleigh? She doesn’t work at Flour Power, does she?”
“Yup. That’s her.” He nodded.
I thought the girl in that photo looked a little familiar, but it had been taken some years ago, and she had grown up since then. She was so pretty and nice. She must have known the coffees I ordered every morning were for Reid and his crew. I had told her that I was in town for the library renovation. And Reid knew I got the coffees from Flour Power. For some reason, I felt like I was left out of a secret, and I didn’t like it. Neither of them had any reason to tell me that they knew each other, had a long, intimate history with each other. So why did it bother me so much?
“I should have seen some of the flags that we weren’t on the same page about us. When I was looking for houses a couple of years ago, I wanted her input. Wanted to make the decision together, thinking it was going to be our house. But she was never interested in going to the open houses with me.When I bought this house, I thought she would move in with me, but she said that her parents didn’t want her to move in together until we were married.” Reid put his empty plate on the floor next to him and rested against the back of the couch. I scooted over to him to put my plate on top of his, leaning over him to reach it. He ran his fingers through my hair, and I rested my head on his lap, meeting his eyes.
“Is this okay?” I asked.
His fingers continued to stroke my hair away from my face. “Absolutely. I’d rather do this than talk,” he smirked.
“Keep talking. I want to hear the whole story,” I laughed softly.
“Ugh, fine.” He settled in, his hand never stopping its caress. “Last summer, I decided I was going to propose. Like I said, we had been together for seven years. We were twenty-four years old and in love, so I thought. What was I waiting for? So I bought a ring, had this whole night planned. And when I asked her to marry me, she broke up with me. Told me she didn’t want to do this anymore. The end.”
My heart broke for him. Reid was such an amazing man, protective and caring. How could she let him go? I sat up and put my hand on his arm.
“Reid, I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
“Don’t do that. I’m not looking for pity or sympathy. I only told you the story because you asked. And I wanted you to know.” He turned to face me, his gaze burning as he tenderly tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I’m not hung up on her. I don’t go to sleep at night thinking she’s the one that got away. I wasn’t good for a while after we broke up, but my heart is all mended now. Don’t think for one second that I’m using you to get over Kayleigh. That’s not what this is.”
His sincerity was evident. I studied his face as his deep brown eyes blazed, his soft, full lips parted. I was leaning into him. I hadn’t meant to, but he pulled me to him like a magnet. His hand gripped the back of my head, and the next thing I knew, my mouth crashed into his.
I may have started it, but he took control of the kiss, tilting my head to just where he wanted it. He pulled my bottom lip into his mouth and nipped softly. I moaned and parted my lips, inviting his tongue to join mine. He explored my mouth, his fingers tangling in my hair as he held me to him. I needed to get closer somehow. I shifted myself over him, my legs straddling him on either side. Reid’s erection pressed against my core in the most delightful way.
His hands moved from my head to my stomach, touching my skin under my sweatshirt. My hips moved of their own accord, seeking friction between our bodies.
Shoot. This wasn’t supposed to happen. There were reasons. I couldn’t think of them right now, but there were definitely reasons why this shouldn’t happen again.
I slowed the kiss, eventually pulling back enough to break the contact between our lips. “We shouldn’t. I’m sorry, I got carried away,” I told him, my forehead resting against his while I caught my breath. I started to move off him, and he gripped my hips, stilling me.
“I could make you forget your reasons.” He kissed my neck.
It was an effort to gather my thoughts when he had his mouth on my skin, but I managed it. “But they will still be there in the morning light.”
Reid groaned and pulled his hands from my body. The cold seeped in where his hands had been. I moved off him and gathered our plates from the floor. From the corner of myeye, I saw Reid adjust himself while I cleaned up our dessert.
“Thanks for, um, dinner.”
Reid laughed loudly, the low sound resonating between my legs. I had to get out of here before I did something foolish again.
“Next time, I’m getting Downtown Diner to go,” he said.
He walked me to the door and helped me into my shoes and coat.
“Drive safe, love.”
