Page 67 of Tempt Me
"Hey," she says softly.
"Hey," I reply, my own voice filled with a mix of longing and frustration.
"Is this a booty call or a get your ass up and move it now call?" she asks immediately.
"Neither," I reply with a soft chuckle. "Just wanted to hear your voice."
Rue sighs sleepily. "You're such a dickhole."
"I know." Pausing before finally speaking again, my tone is hesitant. "I don't want to keep doing this."
When she answers, her voice is wary. "What do you mean?"
"This...whatever the fuck it is. Back and forth, hot and cold. I'm a first-rate asshole because I can't make up my mind and stick to it."
"So stick to it."
"It's not that easy." Running a hand over my face, feeling more exhausted than ever before.
"Are you expecting me to make your mind up for you?" she asks after a long, tense silence. "Because if you are, you can forget it. You know where I stand on this."
"I wish we could be together," I whisper. "But this isn't even about your parents anymore, is it?"
"No."
"Your grandmother will do whatever it takes."
"Apparently."
"So what does that mean?"
"It means that I have to be careful," Rue says, her voice low. "I can't just run away and leave my family behind."
"I know," I reply, not even bothering to conceal the bitterness in my tone.
"You're making this even more difficult," she says, her voice rising slightly.
"I'm not trying to. It's just..." I pause, trying to find the right words. "It feels like we're running around in circles, you know? We both want something, but we can't have it."
Rue is silent for a moment before she speaks again. "I know. But I don't want to lose you."
"I'm not going anywhere," I say firmly, my heart speaking on behalf of every other part of me. I want her, and that's all there is to it. "But we need to figure this out. Otherwise, we're just wasting time. I’m not getting any younger, and you…you’ve still got your life ahead of you. You deserve to live it to the full with a man who can be by your side. My sweet, sweet, Princess.”
There's a long pause before Rue finally speaks again. "I'll talk to my grandmother," she says finally. "See if there's any way we can...negotiate something."
Negotiate something. The words ring in my ears like a death knell.
"Is that even wise?"
"You know me; fools rush in..."
"Don't be an asshat."
This sounds too ominous, like she will have to give up too much just to be with me. Is that fair? Shouldn't I be the one sacrificing everything to be with her?
“You should know by now I’m an asshat extraordinaire."
"Rue."
