Page 27 of Fools in Love

“Starving.”

“Pizza okay?” he asked, and I almost started drooling on the spot.

“Pizza’s perfect.”

“You’re perfect.” He pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose before hopping off the bed and disappearing into the bathroom, leaving me to bask in all of my post-orgasm thoughts alone.

Something had been missing in my life because this was the first time I’d felt truly, genuinely happy. I had been content before tonight, but it wasn’t anything like this. Being here with Robbie filled a void inside of me that I hadn’t even known existed. I’d thought I was fine on my own, by myself, but I no longer wanted that isolation.

I should have known that he’d screw it all up.

SELF-DESTRUCT MODE ACTIVATED

ROBBIE

My arms felt heavy. Someone was lying in them, pinning them in place. There was a weight on my legs as well. Opening my eyes, I saw long strands of brown hair strewn all over my chest. April was sleeping, her face completely relaxed. She looked so peaceful, lying there against me. I could stare at her all day.

I knew that last night had been more than just a good thing—hell, it was a great thing—but in the light of day, the passion worn off, I felt absolutely terrified. I sat there, staring at the ceiling, completely freaking the fuck out. So used to being rejected by women that I was scared to see the look in April’s eyes once she finally opened them and realized where she was.

What if she hauls ass out of my apartment and never looks back?

What if it’s all been a mistake?

What if I’m the mistake?

All of my defenses kicked into overdrive, my brain screaming for me to protect myself. I needed to ask her to leave, so it wouldn’t be her idea to go. Reject her first before she could do it to me. As asinine as the idea should have been, it seemed like the right thing to do. Just the thought of it simmering in my mind calmed down my otherwise racing heart. Nodding to myself, I moved out from under her, knowing that it would stir her awake.

Her hand reached for my back, her fingertips brushing against my flesh as I got up.

“Morning,” she said, her voice groggy.

“Morning.” My tone was cold, and she picked up on it right away, her eyes narrowing into slits as she watched me. “Are you mad I stayed over?”

Was I mad she’d spent the night with me? God, no. But I couldn’t tell her that. Not while I was operating in self-destruct mode. She stared at me, no doubt trying to figure out what had changed between falling asleep and waking up.

“No. But I do have things I need to do, so…” I said, hinting that it would be nice if she left, so I could do all of these made-up things.

“So, you’re saying I should go without actually saying it?”

Leave it to April to call me out. She sat up, pulling the covers over her chest. I couldn’t take the way she was looking at me, her eyes filled with hurt and confusion, so I turned my back to her and started getting changed, ignoring her question.

The next time I dared to look at her, she was tying her coat over her dress and holding her heels in between her fingers.

“I’ll call you a car.”

I reached for my phone as she held hers in the air.

“I already did.”

April was letting me know she didn’t need me or my help. She’d been just fine on her own for years, and she didn’t need me coming in and messing it all up.

“I know what you’re doing.” She poked me in the chest with one finger.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I challenged.

“Pushing me away.”

She was one hundred percent right, but I refused to admit it.Deny, deny, deny.It was the only way for me to stay in control.

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