Page 67 of Known By You
I barked a laugh, delighted. “Good to know. Would’ve been fully understandable.”
She grinned.
I sighed. She was so pretty, and strong, too, and it was stupid how much I liked her. The last thirty-six hours had cemented it.
“I also wanted to say thank you for listening and for your empathy. I thought I wanted to be alone, but I’m deeply grateful you were there.” My throat tightened. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Those words were simple, but wasn’t that what I wanted? I’d gotten to take care of her when we had s’mores after she’d had a hard day. And she’d fully come to my rescue Friday night.
We’d been there for each other, showed up for one another… that was the whole thing, wasn’t it?
She bit her soft lower lip, and I had to will myself to stay put. When she spoke, her voice held such tenderness, it caused my emotions to heighten even more.
“I’m grateful you let me. Truly.”
I cleared my throat yet again, uninterested in ending up tearful again. “Thanks for sending the guys this morning, too. I’m not sure how you knew, but they were great.”
“You’re lucky to have such good friends. I suspect they would’ve been there eventually, even if I hadn’t mentioned it, but I’m glad they could show up for you.”
She had this soft expression that made me want to shake her—to beg her to tell me who showed up for her. Jo did, of course, and I thought maybe her dad did, too, when she let him. But everything I knew about her life in Europe said she didn’t have anyone else, not really, and that maybe this was something I could offer her.
I was starting to suspect I’d give her anything she’d let me.
“How are you doing today?”
Her question pulled me into the current conversation. If I wanted to get to a discussion ofus, I might need to finish up the focus onme.
“I’m good. A little sore, I guess, but I’m glad I gave them something and I hope it’ll be enough to let them find some margin, or whatever it is they need right now.”
For just a minute, I considered hating myself for not giving them more, or for giving them anything at all, but I didn’t care about money. And why shouldn’t I give them something? I didn’t like the idea that I had so much and couldn’t be bothered to help them. That said, I’d seen them bleed other people dry when I was growing up, had dealtwith a fair amount of shame about that even then, so I recognized the wisdom in having a boundary.
I wouldn’t be shocked if I heard from them again, but I’d deal with that problem if and when it arose.
“That’s good. If you feel good about it, that’s all that matters.”
Gah, she was being so sweet and soft, and even though I liked the serious, stern parts of her, too, after last night, I couldn’t keep it locked up anymore.
I grabbed her hand and threaded our fingers together, drawing her gaze to meet mine. Her dark eyes were curious, and she bit that lip again.
My heart rate ticked up, up, and after a steadying breath, I took this quiet moment to ask what I’d wanted to ask for a while now.
“What about us? Can we talk about us now?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Elizabeth
Us? Could we talk about us?
While he held my hand and looked at me with those tender, gorgeous blue eyes, and tried to pretend he hadn’t been looking at my lips for the last few minutes? On the heels of letting me see him in a truly vulnerable place, after sharing an ugly part of himself in such a beautiful, honest way?
How on earth could I say no?
“Sure. Let’s talk.” My stomach swooped and my pulse quickened.
The smile on his handsome face was killer as he said, “I like you, Liz.”
I huffed, pressure releasing from my chest with also a hint of disbelief. I’d never met anyone like him. He was so straightforward and open despite his past.
