He holds my gaze with a fierce intensity. “You’ve apologized before.”
“I know I have. And I’m going to again because you deserve it…and because I want to say it.
I’m sorry for our big fight yesterday. I’m sorry for being so pigheaded and quitting like that. I should have listened to you and calmed down before making any rash decisions. I’m sorry for that fucking to-do list. That was so wrong. It hurt you, and I was too stupid to think that it would. I’m sorry for making life harder for you in general. I’m sorry for not telling you I was related to Clancy earlier. I’m sorry for vomiting in front of you. I’m sorry for my sister possibly threatening your life. I’m sorry for being so up-and-down all the time. I’m sorry for…” Oxygen whooshes from my lungs. “…everything.”
The downpour intensifies.
We’re both trying to blink against it, but it’s futile. I bring my forehead to rest against his, partly to shield our eyes from therain, partly because it feels so damn good to finally be touching him.
“You really thought you could get rid of me that easily?” he asks.
I squeeze my eyes shut, hating myself even more for ever thinking that was a good idea. “I did.”
“You really don’t know me at all.” All I can see is his chest heaving and fat droplets of rain bouncing off his sneakers. He slides his hands around my midback, our foreheads still pressed together, my heart galloping like a racehorse.
“I’ve misjudged you.”
“You have.”
“I’m sorry.”
A beat passes.
And then: “How sorry are you?”
I pull back. “What?”
His hands press into my lower back, forcing my body into his. “I said, how sorry are you?”
“Um. Very?”
“Good.” And with that, he shifts back half a step. His blue eyes are blazing with fire. Then he moves in nice and close, his lips closing in on mine. “You wanted to play a game, let’s play a game.”
“Now?”
He nods, sending droplets of rain off the tips of his hair onto his shoulders.
“Yeah. Fuck, marry, kill. You can only do one to me.”
“I don’t think that’s how that game works.”
“New rules. Just invented them. Now, shut up and play. Do you want to kill me? Marry me? Or fuck me?”
I tap my chin. “It’s a toss-up between two of the three options.”
He shakes his head, trying to contain a grin. “One of those options had better be fuck.”
“Maybe.” When his eyes bulge, I can’t help but laugh. “Okay, yes. One is fuck.”
“And the other one?”
“Kill.”
“Of course it is. How about a compromise? Fuck me now, kill me later?”
I stare out into the field. My vision is limited, but it’s dark, wet, and we are completely on our own. “Now? As in…right now?”
He nods decisively. “Right now.”
