Page 15 of His to Love
“Anything else you need me to change for you?” I asked, but my voice carried a sting of anger, lacking the teasing tone I had intended. I blamed my father’s visit for making me so high-strung and oversensitive. All my life I’d been forced to be someone I wasn’t. Forced to pretend and act perfect at all times. Tyson had been my solace from it, yet after one small conversation with my father, I was back to feeling like I’d never measure up to anyone.
His smile disappeared. “I didn’t mean anything by it, Blue.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“No.” I stood up. I did like it. Too much. It reminded me of blissful ignorance and pathetic dreams. “I don’t even know why you’re here, or why you stayed.”
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Argh.Those muscles. I looked away. “Figured if you were going to throw up, it’d be nice if you weren’t alone.”
“Well thank you, then.” I flashed him a look and walked into the kitchen. Then I poured myself another cup of coffee and stayed there. Being too close to him was deadly. I was getting all swoony and girly and lusty and that wasn’t me. “Then you should be relieved that your vomit-watch is over now.”
His lips twitched. He slowly pushed his chair out, swung his leg over the back, and then pushed it back under the table. And damn, his butt looked good in those jeans. I caught just a glimpse before he turned away and walked around the table, heading straight for me.
Instinctively, I took a step back. And then I froze. I wouldn’t cower away from him.
“You should really get going.”
“I probably should.” He took another step closer. I rolled my shoulders back.
“Good.”
“Yup.” Another step forward. He was close enough that I could smell him, and he didn’t smell like stale alcohol and un-brushed teeth. He smelled like sunshine and sex. “I’ll see you later.”
I shook my head and gripped the mug in front of me like it was a lifeline. To what, I had no clue, but I needed something to hold me steady. Keep me sane. “Probably not a good idea.”
“Oh, I think it’s a great idea,” he murmured and leaned forward. And I was done for.
I was completely lost as he brushed his lips against my cheek. That damn lip-brush was going to be the death of me. My breath hitched in my throat.
“I still have questions and you still owe me answers.”
He moved toward the door, opening it and glancing back at me over his shoulder. “See you soon, Blue.”
The door clicked shut behind him, echoing all over in the silent room, and I was left alone.
Just like always.
“Shit.”
—
I scrubbed my hair with shampoo and tried to calm my mind. When my father had called and requested that I return home, I had only been concerned about my mom and her health.
Running into Tyson had thrown me for a loop and as I showered, washing my hair and massaging my temples to eradicate my hangover, I couldn’t help remember one of the hardest conversations he and I had ever had.
—
“That’s wonderful!” I jumped up and threw myself into his arms.
The piece of white paper in Tyson’s hand crinkled as I pressed my chest against his.
“I’m so proud of you, Tyson.”
Tyson squeezed me and then let me go. His hands curled over the top of my shoulders as he looked down at me, his thick brow furrowed in that way they did when he was really concentrating. In two years of dating, I had seen a lot of his looks. His serious look was the least common, and I worried my lip between my teeth.
“What?”
