Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
He nods again, looking almost…amused.
“Stop,” I say, scowling as I swat him lightly on his chest. “This isn’t funny. This won’t work. It can’t work. It’s doomed. We shouldn’t jump off the cliff, Aaron. We should go home with our swimsuits dry and our hearts and lives still intact.”
“Are you done?” he asks after a beat.
I pull in a breath, holding it for a moment before I exhale with a shake of my head. “No. Yes.” I growl softly. “I don’t know.”
“Go take a shower. Put on cozy clothes and some of those fluffy socks you like. Then come down and eat cupcakes. I’ll order dinner delivered, so you don’t have to cook, and we can watch something dumb on TV while we eat.”
I start to protest that I can’t waste money on dinner, and I don’t want him buying me more things after he already paid for the cleaner and the pest control guy, but he presses a finger to my lips.
“Hush,” he says. “Your brain is tired and you’re sliding into the Bad Things are The Only Things That Ever Happen rabbit hole. When you’re tumbling down that rabbit hole, you’re incapable of making reasonable decisions. So, no decisions tonight. Tonight, there’s only food and rest and maybe some friendly snuggling on the couch if you’re lucky and I’m in the mood. Everything else can wait.” I hum doubtfully against his finger, and he smiles. “I promise it can. You don’t have to fight all the dragons all the time. Sometimes, you can give the dragon a number and ask him to wait on the bench until you’re ready to head back into the ring.”
I pull in a breath and let it out.
Maybe he’s right. Just hearing him talk about taking a night away from my problems made my jaw feel looser than it has all day. Actually relaxing for an entire evening might do wonders for my flagging faith in myself.
At the very least, it’ll be a nice break.
Maybe even a necessary one.
He’s right, this dragon will still be here tomorrow. But how does one fight the Dragon of Falling in Love with The Wrong Man? I have no idea, but thankfully that’s not a battle I have to fight right now.
“Okay,” I murmur against his finger.
His brows shoot up as he drops his hand to his side. “Really? You’re going to let me draw you into my cozy rest vortex?”
I smile. “Yes. Vortex away. I’ll be back when I’m clean and in my PJs.” I back toward the stairs, pointing a finger at his chest as I go. “But don’t order pizza. I can’t eat salty foods for dinner, or I’ll be up all night drinking water and peeing. It’s a vicious cycle.”
He nods seriously. “Sounds like it. How about two roasted chicken dinner specials from The BBQ Hamlet with the healthy vegetables on the side instead of the fried stuff?”
“Split the difference—half fried, half healthy—and you’ve got a deal.”
He winks. “Got it.”
I hesitate for another moment, wanting to tell him something more than thank you. Wanting to tell him that he’s giving me hope and that it means more than hope ever has before because faith has been in such short supply since my happy family fell apart.
Instead, I press my fingers to my lips and flick a kiss his way.
He catches it in his hand, then presses his hand to his bottom.
“You just made me kiss your ass,” I say, fighting a smile.
“I did,” he says. “And I’m not sorry. Not even a little bit.”
I shake my head, my grin popping through. “All right, I’ll give you the win. Just this once.”
“That’s my girl,” he says softly. “Pick those battles, Freckles.”
“I will,” I say as I turn and start up the stairs, trying not to think about how much I like hearing Aaron call me “his girl.”
But man, do I like it.
Way too much.
Chapter 14
Aaron
I want to call Ben and tell him to quit being a controlling dick and ganging up on Melissa with his snobby fiancé, but it’s time to take my own advice.
I’m too angry to make good decisions right now.
Besides, I don’t want to do anything to scare Melissa away. She clearly appreciates my support here in the privacy of her home, but if I were to stick my nose in her family drama, she’d be pissed. She may be beaten down and need a break, but Melissa is still the kind of woman who likes to fight her own battles. I respect that, and I’d feel the same way if our positions were reversed.
So, I focus on things that are within my sphere of control.
I order dinner, heat water for coffee, and move the Lego tower to clear a space for our food on the coffee table. When I’m done, Melissa is still upstairs and the delivery hasn’t arrived, so I decide to call Pete instead of waiting for tomorrow.