Page 58 of An Uphill Battle

“You just assumed I’d wantcoffee.”

“But you do, right?” She lets out this little huff and I grin. “I’m totally right, aren’tI?”

“Yes, but that’s not thepoint.”

“No, I’m pretty sure it is,” I tell her on a laugh, loving that things aren’t awkward or tense betweenus.

“Whatever, assface. You think you’re sosmooth.”

“Smooth ain’t got nothin’ to do with it. I just know you. I know what youlike—”

She stops me with her index finger pressed to my lips. I shoot her a quizzical glance. “Hush up, Drake Collins. All you’re doing is makin’ me fallharder.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” I murmur just as our waitress returns with two plates piled high with pancakes and bacon and two mugs of piping hotcoffee.

We make quick work of our meals, and I slap two twenties down on the table before we head to the grocery store on the other side of the town square. Once we’re stocked with the essentials for the weekend, we load the bags into my truck and make the trek back to the lakehouse.

* * *

Afew hours later,we’re both sitting on the rug basking in the heat of the fire. Azalea’s all sprawled out like a cat, with her head in my lap. I glance down at her and find her worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Gently, I pull it free with my thumb. “What’s on your mind,Bit?”

“I–I guess we shouldtalk.”

“Yeah, no sense in puttin’ it off any longer,” I agree, helping her to move from lying to sitting. “Where ya wannastart?”

She lets out a long breath before offering me a sad smile. “I guess at thebeginning.”

“High school?” I askher.

“No, D. Way before that. Remember way back when I asked you about the day we met and you said you ‘saw me’? Said you saw my hurt and anger that I thought I’d kepthidden?”

I nod for her to continue because I doremember.

“I know I got all defensive and pissy, but you were right. I was hurt and angry. It’s something I’ve recently come to terms with, and it’s a lot of what caused trouble between us—even if it wasunknowingly.”

“What? What happened? Who hurtyou?”

“My dad. He... ugh. Mom didn’t realize she was dating a married man until after I was conceived. He pushed her for an abortion, but she took the money he offered and ran. Listening to her lament over him really shaped my views on men and love andrelationships.”

Understanding dawns, and suddenly, I’m feeling like a total tool. “That’s what made you so upset withKelly.”

“Yep. Pretty much. I always swore I’d never make my mom’s mistakes. And then you inadvertently made me feel like I had one foot through the door in repeating history. I know now that I overreacted. Not only then, but at Thanksgiving and after,too.”

The pinched look to her face is a dead giveaway that it pains her a little to admit her wrongs, which makes me love her all the more. Azalea is a proud woman, and it’s one of the things I love the most about her. But this humble side? It’s pretty damn good,too.

“Not gonna lie, you were a little nuts.” She cringes, and I reach out and take her hands between mine. “But love can make you crazy, Little Bit. You damn sure make me crazy, and as long as we’re communicating with each other and being open and honest, I wouldn’t have it any otherway.”

She flashes a bright smile my way, her face open and full of hope. “You really mean that? Because we both know I can tend to go a bit off the deepend.”

“As long as you tell me what’s got a burr in your britches, I can handle all the crazy you throw my way.”Hell, I’ll welcome it—not that I’m going to tell herthat.

She pulls her hands from mine and rises to her knees and crawls toward me. I draw up to my knees as well, meeting her halfway. I cup her cheek with my palm, and she fists the sides of my sweatshirt. “You’re my everything, Drake UlyssesCollins.”

Sliding my lips over hers, I shift us so that she’s on her back with my weight pressing down on her—not enough to hurt her, just enough so that she feels me. “And you’remine.”

32

Azalea

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