“We need to talk.” She sighs, sitting on the bench, fidgeting with the ring on her finger. My ring. She’s still wearing it. I’d refused to take it back when she tried.
Although I know she’s right and I’m the one who asked her to meet me here, that phrase evokes dread inside of me. Nothing good ever comes from those four words.
I sit down. “I know.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” And I do. I miss her so much I can’t feckin’ sleep at night because I know I’ll dream of her. I have a hard time getting dressed for work in the morning because every time I go to my closet, all I can taste is her on my tongue and remember the way her knees buckled in the small closet. But mostly, I can’t turn on the television because undoubtedly there’s some feckin’ rom com movie on and all I can think isI bet Laken has seen this one. It’s maddening.
“The job’s going well?”
She nods and smiles. “Vince is a little hard to handle.”
“Vince is a pushover,” I answer palming the back of my neck that my grand attempt at winning her back failed miserably. “All you need to do is field calls from his conquests that can’t get the hint and you’ll be in his debt forever. But if you tell him I said that, I’ll deny it.”
Her fingers play with the fur on the teddy bear. “Duly noted.”
I can’t stand it anymore. I’m going crazy, and I have to break the monotonous chitchat. “Laken, I’m sorry for walking out of the closet. I’m sorry for ignoring your calls after the gala. We have a lot to work on, but I’m willing, if you are. The beginning of our story may have started on a lie, but it doesn’t mean it has to end on one.”
“Do you forgive me,” she asks tilting her chin as she squints into the sun.
I don’t even have to think. “Nothing to forgive, Laken. I overreacted out of shock. I’m Irish. Cut me some slack.”
Clipping the sapphire necklace around her nape, she glances up with a dramatic sigh. “What are you doing for dinner?”
“I’m busy,” I say, managing a deadpan stare without an ounce of enthusiasm.
Laken’s face falls as she grips the bear closer to her body and stands up. “Oh.”
Without hesitation, I grab her and crush her to my chest. Pressing our lips together, I deliver a kiss that can make all her rom com movies go fuck themselves. “What are you doing for breakfast?”
