Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
I sigh as I turn back to face her, cupping her face in my hands as I look into her eyes. "Tillie, I want you. And despite probably having every reason to hate me, I think you want me, too. You don't have any reason to believe me. I know that and I get it, but I'm asking you to believe me when I say that I would rather cut off my arm than hurt you. Believe it or not, but I even felt that way back then. I don’t know how this happened, but I didn’t do this, Buttons.”
“Your mother told mine that very thing. She never believed you were involved either,” she tells me in a whisper.
“Thank fuck, someone in my family doesn't, because Tucker definitely thinks I do. Hell, maybe all of them but her do.”
“I'm sorry, Ryder,” Tillie whispers, her words sounding broken. “I didn’t know my mother was going to talk to yours. I swear. I would have stopped her if I had known. I didn’t want anyone to know. I just wanted to forget it ever happened.”
“This is not your fault. None of it. The only thing bothering me is that I'm afraid you will hold it against me and not give me a chance to prove to you that I want you. We can be good together, sweetheart.”
She sighs. “I wish I had never agreed to lunch with your brother,” she mutters.
“God, me too,” I laugh as she gives me a tiny smile.
“Sorry.”
“You okay to take a shower? Or would you like me to join you?” I grin down at her, daring her to invite me to join.
“I'm not sure taking a shower would be the smart play here, Ryder,” she says, glancing at the water running behind me.
“Fair enough. What are you ready for?”
Disappointment fills me, but I push through. This is a small setback, but she’s not demanding I leave. She’s here with me and I have to believe we will get through this and continue what we started last night. I watch as she thinks things over. I literally see the different emotions flickering over her face. She seems hesitant as if she thinks I will hate what she’s about to say and I brace myself.
“I wouldn't mind cuddles and a movie…” She blushes, obviously uncomfortable. “That probably sounds really lame to you after what we did this morning.”
“Just to be clear, will any of these cuddles involve you being naked?” I ask, making her blush deepen.
“N-no. Naked cuddles are not in this offer. Maybe we should—”
I lean in, capturing her lips to keep her from saying anything else. I explore her mouth soft and slow with my tongue, cajoling her into joining me and soon the kiss deepens. Her tongue slides against mine and I groan at how powerful that small concession from her is. My hand comes up to wrap around the side of her neck and I pull back to stroke my thumb against her cheek. I lean my forehead against hers, both of us breathing hard.
“Tillie Mae Carter, I don’t think you understand that having you in my arms is everything to me right now.”
“Are you sure?” She leans back to look up at me, her forehead crinkled with surprise, or hell, maybe disbelief.
“Oh yeah, Buttons. I'm positive. Hell, I’m more than positive.”
“We could watch a movie.”
“Do you have the one that was playing at the theater?”
“Niagara? It’s in my streaming purchases. Why?”
“Because if it's your favorite, I'd like to watch it all the way through,” I answer honestly.
“It's one I love, but because of the scenery in it. It's not what you would call a happy movie...”
“If you're in my arms, sweetheart, then I will be happy.”
“Well then,” she says, pushing against my chest. “Get out before the water starts running out cold. I only have a small water heater.”
I kiss her quickly and before I give into the urge to beg her to let me take that shower with her, I force myself to walk out, closing the door behind me. God, it has been so long since I’ve had these feelings. The difference is, they’re stronger now. I’m not a kid anymore and I might have thought Emily was it for me, but I was young. Technically, I was two years older than Emily and Tillie because I was a grade ahead of them in school, plus I had been held back a year for sports on top of that. Still, I was young and stupid. I didn’t appreciate what was right before me.
Tillie.
Fuck, I see her now…
I head to the front door, making sure it’s locked up for the night. Then, I lean up against the counter and get my phone from my pocket. I dial Mom’s number and I do this while looking over Tillie’s house and feeling a satisfaction I didn’t know was possible.