I nod in return, and her smile somehow grows as she studies me. When we were working on her pictures for the contest, she mentioned something about wanting a new vlogging camera and considering she looks ecstatic, I'm assuming I remembered correctly, and this was the one she wanted.
“Is this you saying sorry for ignoring me?” She takes her drink back and gives me a pointed look, but I don't miss the way her lips curve upwards.
“Does that pretty smile mean I'm forgiven?” I voice, my eyes on those dimples.
She averts my eyes, hiding her smile. I put my hand on the small of her back as I guide her out of the coffee shop because beside her, are two nosy baristas who were in our entire conversation.
“It's going to take more than an expensive camera for me to forget you blatantly acting like you didn't know me aftersleepingwith me.” She keeps her voice light, but I sense the hurt under her tone, and it makes me feel like a bigger dick.
As we approach my car, I open the driver seat door and nod for the other side. “Let me make it up to you.”
She crosses her arms as she watches me. “How?” She looks skeptical.
“Get in, and I'll show you.” I'm sure she wants to use her new camera, and while it's for vlogging, she can get nice pictures. There's a park downtown that I'm sure she'll like.
Her eyes slightly narrow as she studies me but after a beat, she walks around the car and slides in. I get in after her and then turn to her when she starts talking.
“Are you going to tell me why you completely brushed me off the other day?” She puts her drink in the cup holder before folding her arms across her chest and crossing her legs. “First, you're nice in the bar—well, at least you were nice to me. Then we hooked up, and you can’t even walk me back to the bar. It was very dark, and drunk men were everywhere.”
“You were fine-” Cutting myself off, I shake my head at the reminder. “That'swhy you stormed off with a little attitude? Because I didn't offer to walk you twenty feet?”
“Yes, it'srude. How do you know I wasfine? You just drove off.”
“You were fine.” I nod once as I remind her.
She keeps her eyes fixed on mine, a small furrow growing between her brows. “I'm confused, Liam. You said you don't live around here… did you come all the way over here to give me a sorry gift? You don't seem like the type of man that apologizes for being… well, an ass.” She keeps her voice light, her eyes still watching me like she can pull my thoughts from my head to hers.
“I'm not the type.” I open my mouth again to tell her I also don't like being ignored but quickly close it because I realize how ridiculous it is that I came here and got her an expensive camera because she sent me a smart textafterIignoredher.
What am I doing with this woman?
“Well,” She starts again, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You're going to have to say it.” She holds her head up high, but I don't try to form the words I desperately hate saying.
When I say nothing, she shakes her head and grabs her drink before turning for the door. The flash of hurt in her pretty eyes makes me lean over her to close the door as she opens it. I keep my hand on her door as I turn to her, and she goes still, keeping our faces inches apart. “It won't happen again,” I say, meaning it.
My eyes land on her lips, and I close the distance between us, kissing her gently. She pulls away first, leaning her head on the seat. “Is that how you say sorry? Gifts and kisses?”
I watch her carefully, and the hint of hurt is still in her damn eyes, and the sight makes it feel too small in here. I didn't think not saying hi to her would affect her this much. “It could be.” My hand lands on her thigh, but when I lean in again, she puts a finger on my lips.
“Use your words first.” She drags her finger down to the bottom of my chin slowly, tilting my head up so my eyes will meet hers again.How does she look prettier now than she did five seconds ago?
“I'm sorry for ignoring you, Sage,” I force out, and the crease in her brows eases as the corner of her lips rises. Past her shoulder, I notice the guy barista still watching us, and while my car is tinted, I still pull away and have the car drive us to the park.
Glancing back at her, she has her eyes on the wheel. “Oh my God, this is so cool.”
I feel a smirk tug at my lips at how easily distracted she is. “Have you never been in a Telsa?”
She shakes her head, her bangs falling in front of her eyes. “No, I have. My brother has one. I just never been in one while it drives itself.” She reaches into her bag for something. “I need to call him, he literally said-”
I swiftly cut her off. “Call him another time.” I'm sure he's going to ask whose car she's in, and I don't want him to know that. “Let me see the camera.”
She tucks her phone back into her bag mindlessly before handing me the camera, and I plug it in to charge before telling her about the features it has.
“You learned about the camera?” She has a teasing smile on her face as I start setting it up for her, but I don't respond.
We get to the park and when we step out, she's already taking pictures on her phone of the cherry blossoms. “This is so pretty.” She looks up at the trees in awe as a few petals fall around her, and she looks gorgeous.
I snap a few pictures on her new camera, and she doesn't even notice at first with how distracted she is with the trees. When she finally turns to me, she tilts her head to the side. “Iknewyou were a nice guy under all that attitude.”
