Page 122 of Promise Me Nothing
“It tookfour yearsto build this property?”
Wyatt rolls his eyes, carrying our two glasses over to where I stand on the other side of the counter. “Yeah. That’s what happens when you want custom everything imported from a million different countries.”
I shake my head. “Wow. Well, the main houseisbeautiful.”
“Beautiful. And sterile. It’s more like a museum than a home.” Then he shakes his head. “But let’s not talk about that. How was your day today?”
He hands me my glass, then leads me over to take a seat on the couch, a big soft plush thing that you sink right into and never want to get up from.
My expression perks, and I launch into the story of my new camera, so excited to share with him that I now get to take pictures of birds pooping on a wall in really high quality.
He laughs. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you. So what’s your plan, then. Now that you have the camera you need, will you start a business?”
I lift my shoulders, an uncomfortable expression coming across my face, though I try to laugh through it. “Oh, I just… I don’t know. I don’t think I’m ready for that. You know? Like, I just have so much more to learn first.”
He shakes his head. “That’s always going to be true. There will always be new things to learn. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start now. Dive in and grab your dream, Hannah.”
I wish it was as simple as that. But a business requires startup capital. Websites, marketing, evenmoretech and resources that I still need to save up and buy.
“I have some things I’m thinking about,” I finally say, taking a large sip. “We’ll see how it goes.”
“I believe you can do whatever you set your mind to, Hannah,” Wyatt says, and something inside of me wants to weep at how earnest he sounds. “You’ve gotten through so much in your life. This is one of the last hurdles to get you where you want to go. And I wish you could believe in yourself as much as I do.”
I give him a smile, shake my head almost in disbelief.
I’ve never had someone say things like that before, never had someone speak such beautiful words, try to build up confidence in me so unconditionally.
It scratches something in my throat, wells something up in my chest.
“You look like you have something on your mind,” he says, taking my free hand in his and tracing his fingers along my palm.
I shiver, the tiniest movement from him causing big reactions inside of me.
“I’m just glad to be here with you, is all.” I gaze into his eyes, enjoying the way he looks right back at me.
Wyatt looks at me like he can really see me. Like I belong here. Like I matter.
There’s something inside of me that wants him to be the one I sleep with for the first time. The one who teaches me what it’s like to experience that type of pleasure and bite of pain.
I might have been a little irrational with my thought process that first night, when I invited him upstairs on our first date. Now, though, it feels right.
But I’m unpracticed with seduction, even if I do manage to get brave every so often. So I don’t even know where to begin.
“You’re so beautiful,” he says, setting his wine glass down. Then his hand comes up to tuck a loose end from my ponytail behind my ear. “Do you know that? Do you know how it makes me feel when you look at me like you do?”
“How do I look at you?”
“Like you never want to look away.” He shakes his head, like he wants to say something else. But instead he leans forward, presses his lips against mine.
I sink into his kiss, allowing myself to be devoured by something that looks so small but feels so big.
So much.
Too much.
No, not too much.
Not enough.
