Page 62 of The Wedding Driver
“And you don’t believe her?”
“I don’t believe much of what comes out of her mouth, especially when she wouldn’t provide the details.” Foster lifted the box.
She glanced up. “What does that mean?”
He continued to examine the product as if it were a fine piece of jewelry. He held it up to the light and then brought it closer to his face. He squinted. “I was always super careful about using protection. I was married and I didn’t want to be put in a position where I had another child. That would be a betrayal to Lisa that I couldn’t handle. It was bad enough I was cheating on her mother. Kathy always said she was on the pill, but maybe she wasn’t. That’s always possible, but I not once went without a condom.”
“You did with me,” Tonya said.
“That’s true. However, I never once went without with Kathy. Not that this is an excuse, but I hadn’t had sex in seven years.” He made eye contact. “You said you loved me.”
She blinked. She’d said a lot of things during her rant and those words had flown from her lips like a runaway train. She wanted to take them back, but she couldn’t. There were out there in the universe forever.
“I might have.”
“No. You did.” He put the box on the shelf and took her by the shoulders. His intense eyes tore deep into her soul. “I heard it clear as day. I’m not sure I heard anything after that and you certainly didn’t hear me.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I tried to. But you bulldozed right over me. I’m not used to you being assertive. I like it.” He brushed his mouth over her lips in a tender kiss. “What you failed to hear was me telling you that I love you too.”
“Don’t mess with me. I’m not in the mood.”
He chuckled.
“This isn’t funny.”
“Your response to me is.” He took her by hand and led her out of the pharmacy.
Without the Plan B pill. She glanced over her shoulder. “We should purchase that now.”
“We have a day or two from what I’ve read,” he said. “Stop deflecting from the conversation we’re having right now.”
“Okay. You let me walk away earlier.”
“Not really.” He led her to the elevator. He pushed the button and waited. “I had every intention of coming after you, but the doctor came in and I had to deal with that before searching for you.”
“You overreacted to what I said to Denise, although I will admit that I might have overstepped.”
“You’re right about what I’m afraid of.”
The elevator doors swung open, but neither one of them entered. They stood there in the middle of the hallway, staring at each other.
“I will never ask you to forget Lisa. Or Victoria. Or any part of your past,” Tonya said. “All of that makes up who you are. I’m not looking to change you.”
“I know that.” He nodded. “But my fears aren’t going to go away overnight just because I’ve voiced them.”
She palmed his cheek. “I’m not asking for it to go away. I’m only asking that you make room in your heart for me.”
“I love you. I’ve been afraid of that too. As if all this change somehow means Lisa won’t be part of my life. Deep down I know that’s not true.” He took her hand and placed it over his chest. “As far as that box I put back on the shelf, well, I’m afraid if we don’t take it, we’re rushing into things we’re not ready for and all my fears will be put into play. But I’m also afraid if we do take it, I’m not moving forward at all. I want to live. I want a life with you. I don’t know what that looks like; I just know that my life is better with you in it.”
“We have a day or two before that pill isn’t an option,” Tonya said. “We can talk more about it when we’re both less emotional.”
He leaned forward and hit the button for the elevator again. “We need time to be a couple. Knowing each other—being close friends—isn’t the same.”
Stepping into the enclosed space, she wrapped her arms around him, leaning into his strong body. She stared into his sweet, loving eyes and for the first time, she saw her future. “There’s a lot going on right now.”
His lips brushed over her mouth as the doors closed. “I promise I will give all of me to this relationship, but I need to deal with Victoria.”
