Page 40 of Skid
Seeing her upset fucked with my head. I sat up and placed my hand on her thigh as I said, “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”
“There’s noweto it, Thatch,” Laken argued. “This is on me. Baylor is my daughter.”
“Yeah, she is, but you’remy girl.And I take care of what’s mine.”
Her eyes softened, and I could see that wall she liked to hide behind starting to crack. I didn’t say it to make a point. I said it because I meant it. Laken wasn’t ready to hear it, so she kept at it. “I don’t want you having to take on my mess. It isn’t fair. I won’t do it. I just need some time to think.”
“What’s there to think about?”
“Everything, Baylor. Work. Bills. My apartment,” she said, voice tight. “Things were going so well, and now, this. It’s like I’m not meant to have a good life.”
“That’s not true. You deserve it more than anyone I know.”
“Clearly not.”
I took her hand in mine as I said, “We’ve got something good here, don’t we?”
“We do,” she admitted. “But we have to be realistic about things. We’ve only known each other for a little while. Who’s to say you’ll even like me a month from now?”
“I will.”
“But how can you be sure?”
“Because I do. You’re it for me, Laken. Knew that the night I found you standing on the side of that road.”
“Is that right?” she giggled.
“No doubt about it.” I gave her a look. “You saying you don’t feel the same?”
“No,” she sighed. “I’m not saying that at all.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“It doesn’t change anything. I’m still in a mess.”
“Don’t have to be.” Her brows furrowed. “I have an answer to all your woes.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
“It’s pretty simple.” I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Stay here.”
“Oh, I thought you were being serious.”
“I am,” I said softly, my thumb tracing her jaw. “It’s been good having you here. I want you and Baylor to stay.”
“I appreciate the offer. I really do, but this is too soon. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too soon.” She raked her teeth across her bottom lip and sighed before continuing, “I like what we have. I like it a lot. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
The last thing I wanted to do was to rush into something we weren’t ready for, but there was no doubt in my mind. I wanted her with me. Not because she was in a bind or I didn’t think they were safe in that apartment. Because having them in my home never felt temporary. It felt right.
I loved her.
I wanted to be with her, and because of that, I suggested, “How about a compromise?”
“What kind of compromise?”
