Page 93 of Lovetown, USA
“None taken.”
Me and Cam share a look.
“What?” she asks as she glances back and forth between us.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” I point at Cam. “You’re cleaning the kitchen, and I don’t wanna hear a word about it.”
“I got you.”
I look over at Lane, who’s staring down at her plate with her hand splayed across her stomach.
“Cookies?”
“Not yet.” Her eyes meet mine. “I’m full. Dinner was delicious.”
I nod, then incline my head for her to follow me.
In the living room, I press a button, filling the room with smooth jazz. I hold out a hand. She rolls her eyes, following up with a smile that makes my night.
I pull her into my arms and sway us back and forth, relieved when her body slowly relaxes against mine and her arms encircle my neck. Her head finds its rest against my chest.
This is…what my life should be like. Every day. That thought hits me like a train.
I want to say something about what she wrote. To tell her that I understand now. She’s still in pain. She still doesn’t trust. She’s still scared to be vulnerable. This town triggers her because she doesn’t believe any of it is true. She doesn’t think it’s possible.
But all I can muster is, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” she murmurs.
“That you were hurt like that.”
She lifts her head, smiling up at me. “Thank you, Dr. Trey, but you don’t need to heal me from things you didn’t infect me with.”
“I do, though, if it’s…” I trail off, smiling when her eyebrows lift. “You know what I just thought about? The night we met. Jazz. You on the dance floor. Me watching you.”
“I vaguely remember that.”
“Don’t laugh at this, but when you lost your shoe, I was calling you Cinderella in my head.”
She chuckles. “I don’t think Cinderella was ever drunk and disorderly, but I’ll take it.” Her brows crinkle. “Wait. What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“All of this. Reminiscing like it’s an anniversary of something. I don’t know.” She stops moving. “Is this genuine?”
“Everything I say and do is genuine when it comes to you.”
Her eyes narrow.
“I won’t beat around the bush, Lane. I’m too old for that shit. I like you. I’m feeling you. I don’t wanna see anybody else, and I wanna be the only man you see.”
“You wanna be exclusive?”
I nod. “I know you got eaters all over town, but I was hoping—“
Her soft punch to my chest stops me cold.
“What?” I say, laughing. “Am I lying?”
