Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Bugger. Sorry. You should have just gone home. Is your back okay?”
“Goldie, last night you got drunk from one glass of champagne and told me that you hadn’t eaten all day. No way was I leaving you.”
She winced. Shit. Yeah, she could imagine what state she was in last night. “Sorry about that.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Now, I know that I’ve got to keep an eye on how much you’re eating. And to make a rule that you’re only to have a drink when you’re with me.”
“A . . . a rule? When I’m with you? Travis, do you not understand what I just said?” He didn’t seem to be getting that they should be spending less time together.
“Oh, yeah, there was a lot of bullshit about you needing space from me and having to do it all on your own.”
“It’s not bullshit!” Jeez, he was a hardheaded cockwomble!
“Hmm, what is it that you like to say? Oh yeah, everything that came out of your mouth is complete and utter bollocks.”
“It most certainly is not! It’s the truth! We need some space so that I don’t come to rely on you when you won’t be in my life forever.”
He leaned in and she could feel how tense he was. How angry. Well, that was just perfect since she was freaking furious!
“Who says I won’t be in your life forever?”
“Me! Because I’m going to be leaving soon. And I know we’re friends now. But we kind of crossed that line and it’s going to be hard to go back.”
“Good. I’m glad it’s going to be hard, because there is no going back.”
Did that . . . did that mean that he no longer wanted to be friends? This was such a confusing conversation.
“I tried to give you space after I brought you to orgasm on my kitchen counter, then I got flooded at work after looking for Rory for two days. Oh, and then I learned that you lied about what photos you take. Had to get my head around that.”
“I never lied.” She pointed at him. “You assumed.”
“You didn’t correct my assumption.”
“Yes, well, I didn’t think you’d take it well,” she told him with a wince.
“You cannot keep things from me just because you think I won’t take them well. That’s not a way to start a relationship.”
Urgh. This man.
“We’re not in a relationship!” she cried.
He was delusional.
“Sure, we are. I’m your boyfriend and you’re mine.”
“I’m yours? I’m your girlfriend?” she asked.
“That’s what I said.”
Not exactly. But she was focusing on the wrong part anyway. It didn’t matter how he wanted to label her when she didn’t actually belong to him in any capacity.
“We aren’t in a relationship. That was a lie you told everyone last night to help me. Which I appreciate. But the exhibition is over and things can go back to normal.”
“Yep, they can. The new normal.”
25
If this hadn’t been such an important conversation, he might have laughed at the frustrated expression on her face.
But his mind was made up. She needed him. He wanted her.
It was perfect.
And yeah, maybe she didn’t fit the criteria he’d been using to search for a girlfriend. She certainly wasn’t uncomplicated. Or simple. She wouldn’t just slot on into his life without making waves.
But what the fuck had he been thinking? That sounded . . . terrible. He would have been bored within months if not weeks. And then what? Stuck in a relationship that he didn’t want?
No. He wanted chaos and craziness. Pure beauty and kindness and passion.
This woman was meant to be in his life. He’d fucked things up when they were younger and he was dumb. But they’d been children then.
Now, they were both adults.
And it didn’t worry him that she was taking longer to realize this . . . she just needed to get with the program. But he could be patient.
He’d give her an hour or two.
And people said he was an inflexible guy.
“New normal?” she asked with trepidation.
“Yes, the sort of normal where I hold open doors and carry stuff for you, where I get to know where you are, what you’re doing, and when you’ll be home. Where I take you out for dinner or other dates and hold your hand and kiss you. I pick you up, I walk you to the door, and when we’re ready, I stay over with you or you stay with me. And I introduce you as mine.”
“Pretty much all of that happens now! Except the dinner and dates.”
“Well, I went to an exhibition with you last night, that’s sort of a date, and I cooked breakfast for you this morning.”
“Those are not dates!”
“Fair enough. I can take criticism and learn from it. I’m an evolved guy.”
“No you’re not,” she told him.
“We’ll go on a date tonight. Wait, tonight we’re going to Whip It. Does that count as a date?”