Love Bug (The Prescotts Book 3) by Tara Wyatt (electric book reader .TXT) 📗

He nodded, savoring the feel of her hand in his. “People have been hurt because of me, and I don’t want that to happen again. And given the strong feelings I already had for you…I may have overcorrected.”

“I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad, but I need you to know that you really hurt me that morning, Max. You did. Because I’d had feelings for you for a long time and then to be rejected like that after the most terrifying night of my life…” She met his eyes, her own bright. “You hurt me. Deeply.”

He closed his eyes, accepting her words. Accepting responsibility for the hurt he’d caused, marveling at the fact that despite what he’d done, she was still sitting here, her hand in his. “I know. The way I acted was unforgiveable, and I want you to know that I’m so sorry, Willa. I’m really fucking sorry.”

She studied him for a moment, her eyebrows furled. Gradually, her expression softened, and then she nodded. “Okay. Apology accepted.”

He looked down, his chest tingling. How could it be that simple? How could she just forgive him like that? Like it was easy and obvious? Growing up, his parents hadn’t ever modeled forgiveness. They’d been too busy putting on a masterclass in manipulation, neglect, and emotional abuse. It hadn’t occurred to him that forgiveness was something that could be given so easily.

The second course arrived, forcing their hands apart. Precisely arranged squid, scallops and king prawns dotted the large white platter the waiter set down in front of them. Tiny dabs of wasabi and ginger decorated the plate, making the entire course look like a work of art.

Willa studied him thoughtfully as she ate, her eyes glued to him. After a few moments, she set down her chopsticks and dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “I guess my question now is…what’s different? What’s changed? What’s happened in two months that you’ve done a 180 on…on us? Because that is what’s happened, isn’t it?” He could see the hope shining in her eyes, in the way she leaned forward slightly, her lips parted. And for once, he didn’t have to squash it. The relief made him feel lighter than he had in a long time.

“I thought that staying away from you was the best thing I could do for you. You know from our chats that I have a lot of baggage, and given how I feel about you, the last thing I want to do is hurt you. I told myself that I was doing the right thing by keeping my distance. But finding out that you’re Fresh Princess, that we have this incredible connection…I meant it when I said that everything is you, Willa. I meant it when I said that I don’t know how to stay away from you. And I’m still fucking terrified that I’m going to ruin this and hurt you. I am. But the past two months have been absolute hell and I can’t do it anymore.”

She exhaled sharply. “And over the past two months, did you give any thought to what I might be feeling? To what I might want?”

“Not nearly enough.” He took her hand again. “I’m bad at this. Really, really bad. I’m not good at relationships. I’m not good at love.”

Willa’s mouth fell open, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “What did you say?”

“Finding out that you’re Fresh Princess made me face the truth, a fact I’ve been running from for weeks now.” He held her gaze, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. “I’m in love with you, Willa.” He hadn’t planned on telling her that tonight, but now that he had, it felt like a relief. It was the most honest thing he’d ever said to her.

She closed her eyes and a single tear slipped down over her cheek. For several seconds, she stared down at her lap, shaking her head slowly. Finally, she looked up. “You are?” she asked, her voice shaking.

He nodded slowly, squeezing her hand. “Yeah. I am. I think I have been for a long time now, and it took me longer than in should’ve to realize it because I’ve never been in love before, not with anyone. For a long time, I thought something was wrong with me, that I couldn’t feel that way about anyone. But I feel that way about you. And it scares the shit out of me because I don’t know how to be in a relationship like that. All I’ve ever done is disappoint and hurt people. And that’s the last thing I want for you. But I also know that my feelings are strong enough that I want to take that chance. If you’ll have me. It’s your call. I wouldn’t blame you if—”

“I’m in love with you, too,” she said softly, cutting him off. All of the air went out of his lungs as a wide smile spread across his face.

“You are? Even after all of the shit I’ve pulled? The way I’ve acted? How I’ve treated you?”

She glanced down. “I tried to stop. I tried to let you go. And I just couldn’t. Nothing I did worked. Because it’s you, Max. For months now, it’s been you. And then, finding out you’re Mr. 23…” She licked her lips and took a sip of her tea. “I’m willing to let go of the rejections and the hurt to give us a chance. I accept that you have some stuff in your past that makes this hard for you, but knowing that doesn’t make me want you any less. Because I do want to be with you, if that’s what you’re offering.”

Max didn’t have a name for the emotion exploding through him, taking up all of the available space in his chest. It was warmth. It was a racing pulse. It was a tingling feeling in his arms and legs. It was a dryness in his mouth and a tightness in his stomach.