Page 16 of Giddy-Up
“Why would you be the last person I want to talk to?”he asked again, this time taking a step closer.Close enough for her tongue to get its first taste of his musky leather scent.
“I know you’ve been avoiding me,” she said meekly.
Wade considered her for a second, his hand slowly going to his hat.Carefully, he pulled it off, revealing ruffled blond strands as he placed the Stetson on the top of the feed bin.His gaze never left hers as silence descended.But the quiet didn’t bring calm.The air was charged with an intensity she’d never experienced before.
Riley couldn’t take it anymore.She needed to say something to break this spell.Or at least break the concentrated eye contact that was starting to make her palms sweat.
“I owe you an explanation,” she announced.When Wade’s stare didn’t falter, she decided to continue.“So, I, uh, I wrote one down for you.”Pulling her crumpled paper from her pocket, she didn’t miss that her hands were shaking.
Wade’s head tilted.“You wrote down an explanation?”
“Yeah.I-I uh, sometimes my words come out wrong or uh, jumbled and I...I don’t want these words to come out wrong.”
More silence.More staring.
Her eyes shot down to the piece of paper she’d managed to uncrumple.Right.Here goes nothing.
The only problem was, nothing came out.She suddenly felt overwhelmed.Did he think she was silly for writing her explanation down?Was this going to be the final nail in the coffin?Should she just not say anything?
Or maybe I should just quit.
“So, do I get to hear what you wrote?”Wade’s question brought her gaze up again.Having his eyes on her was no less intense but his expression had grown softer.It was enough to make her talk.Or at least try.
She looked back at the paper and began to read.“Our date was bad.And I’m so sorry.I take full responsibility.I guess you’ve probably noticed already that I’m a bit awkward...and I say weird things.”
“No,” Wade declared.Shocking her enough that she tore her attention away from her notes.
“No?”she repeated.He lies.
“No, petal.You’re perfect.”
Huh?
“I’m not perfect.”She vehemently shook her head.
Wade took a step closer; his forefinger going to her chin as he nudged her until their gazes were entwined.“Well, I think you are.Why do you think I asked you out?”
“I-I have social anxiety,” she stuttered.
“And?”
“What do you meanand?”Did he hear her?“I had a panic attack on our date.”
“Okay.”
Okay?Riley needed her notes.This wasn’t how this was supposed to go.He was supposed to listen to her read everything she’d written.Accept her apology.Ask her on a pity date, where she would throw herself at him, he’d feel sorry for her, she’d lose her virginity and then she’d avoid him.It was all planned.But he was distracting her.
“I take it that was why you went quiet on the drive home?”He was taking this so well.
I don’t think he’s blinked once.
Or looked at her like she was a freak.
Shitballs.That makes me like him even more.
“Yeah.Uh.The restaurant...there was just too many people there and, and, it was so loud and we were sat right in the middle of everything.It was...it was just...”she trailed off.
“Too much?”he finished for her, allowing her to nod her agreement.“I get it.Let me try again.”
