I chuckle bitterly.“Truer words have never been spoken.”
With anger coursing through my veins, I stab my fork into the pie, taking a big bite.It’s seriously good, the perfect mix of sweet and chocolatey, but all I can think about is Blade and how he could be so cold after what we shared just a few days ago.
I’m angry at him for making me feel unimportant and not treating me with the same care he did before.And a little hurt too.The kiss obviously meant more to me than it did to him.
Two days later, I’mback in town buying more chocolate when a hand lands on my shoulder.
“Hey, Hannah.”
Blade’s deep voice startles me, yet at the same time, my stomach does a little flip.I freeze for a moment, feeling the rush of emotions I’ve been trying to suppress.
“B-Blade,” I stammer, turning to face him.
His presence is undeniably tall and strong.
“How are you?”His question is simple, but the weight of everything unspoken between us hangs in the air.
I smile widely and maybe a little too quickly.“I’m good.See you around.”
I walk away before I can say anything else, my heart beating faster than usual, my head a whirlwind of emotions.I make a beeline for my car, open the door, and throw my groceries onto the passenger seat.
“I hope there were no eggs in that.”
A small squeak escapes me, and I jump slightly, turning around.Blade is standing right behind me, one hand on my car’s roof and the other on the open door, effectively caging me in.
“Nope.No eggs,” I reply, trying to sound casual, but my nerves are getting the better of me.I add quickly, “And I’m busy, so, if you wouldn’t mind?”
He doesn’t move.He just stands there looking at me with an unreadable expression.Then, a small laugh escapes him.“You’re mad.”
I furrow my brow, confused.“No.Why would I be mad?”
Blade runs a hand through his long, light brown hair, his gaze shifting away for a moment before meeting mine again.“I’m not good at this.”
“Not good at what?”I ask, genuinely confused now.The tension between us is still there, thick in the air, but I’m not sure what he’s referring to.
“Dating and all the stuff women like,” he mutters, the frustration in his voice clear now.“Like texting or calling or whatever the fuck I’m supposed to do.”
My heart skips a beat, and I blink at him, taken aback by his admission.Blade seems to be the kind of man who has it all together, but this feels different.Vulnerable, even.His shoulders are tense, his gaze unwavering, but there’s honesty in his words I didn’t expect.
For a moment, I don’t say anything.I just stare at him, trying to process his words and the unexpected vulnerability he’s offering me.
“You don’t have to be perfect, Blade,” I say quietly.“You just have to show a girl you like her.”
He looks at me, his expression softening ever so slightly, though he doesn’t say anything for a moment.His gaze flickers between my eyes and lips, and I can see the internal battle in his eyes—a mix of uncertainty and longing.
“I don’t know what to do,” he admits, his voice quieter now, the walls he’s built around himself starting to crack.“I don’t know how to fix what I’ve messed up.”
“This helps.Admitting you’re a dick for not calling or texting a girlafteryou kiss her and give her your knife.”Tilting my head to the side, I laugh.“That sounds way weirder said out loud.”I shake my head.“Do you want it back?”
“Not sure I said I was a dick.”He laughs, then he reaches out, his hand brushing against mine, and I don’t pull away.“You’re right, though,” he says softly, his voice almost a whisper now.“I should have called, but no, I don’t want my knife back, not yet.”
For a long moment, we stand there, the quiet settling around us, and I realize that, despite the messiness of it all, I really like this man.
“Do you want to grab a coffee or a tea or something?”Blade asks hopefully.
Shaking my head, I say, “I can’t.Gotta get back to work.”
Blade steps back, nodding.“Right, of course.”
