Page 64 of The Weight Of It All
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Because I’ve seen those movies where the hot jock acts all interested in the overweight nerdy person as a joke or a dare, and quite frankly, they’re not funny.”
He recoiled like my words physically hurt him. He took a step back then went from shocked to a little peeved. “Have I ever treated you any different?” He raised his eyebrows and folded his arms. “Have I ever once made you feel any less of a person?”
I put my hand up like it could somehow pull back my words that upset him. “No.”
Reed’s nostrils flared. “Because I’m insulted that you think that low of me.”
I shook my head. “No, Reed, that’s not what I meant. I would never think that of you.”
“But you just did.”
Oh Jesus, he was pissed at me. My mouth was suddenly dry. “Not just looks, no. I just thought you’d pick someone with a similar lifestyle. Not looks. Someone who respects their body and who spends time, hours actually, working out and being you know, capable of doing all those superhuman things you did yesterday.”
He thought about that for a moment then shook his head. “I appreciate your concern for what you think I need. But how about you let me decide what I need and what I don’t.”
“Okay, yeah, that was presumptuous, sorry.”
He nodded slowly. “It was. You seemed to have presumed a lot about me.”
“I haven’t really. Well, I haven’t meant to.”
“Is it about me, or is it about you?”
“What?”
“The one of us that’s not good enough?” He frowned. “Is it me or you?”
“Me. God, me. You’re?” I waved my hand in his general direction. “?you’re perfect.”
He shook his head a little and sighed. “It’s hard to be pissed at you, Henry.”
“No, it’s not. A lot of people manage just fine.”
He almost smiled. “No, I mean, it’s hard to be mad at you for assuming all these crazy things when they all reflect your perception of yourself.”
“What?”
“You don’t think we should be together, not because I look like this.” He waved his hand in front of himself like I’d done. “Because I’m, what did you call me?”
“Perfect.”
Reed rolled his eyes. “Which is ridiculous, just so you know. No, Henry, you don’t think we should be together because you don’t thinkyou’regood enough.”
I stared at him. I was ripped open, my heart and worst insecurities were exposed.
His eyes softened. “But, Henry, you are. And if you’d just have asked me instead of shutting me out, I would’ve said that we do belong together. Because you get me, and I can talk to you and be with you like it’s the easiest thing in the world.”
I blinked and couldn’t form the words. Coherent sentences were impossible. “Huh?”
Reed’s lips twitched, and he finally gave in and smiled. He closed the distance between us until he stood close enough that I could feel the heat coming off his body. He put his fingers to my chin until I was looking up at him. I’d never felt more vulnerable than I did in that moment. My heart beat triple-time and my lungs squeezed, adrenaline and nerves flooded my body. He was so close and so tall, his size was overwhelming and incredible. His face was barely an inch from mine, his eyes an ocean of heat. He licked his lips and slid his hand along my jaw. The roughness of his skin sent a shiver through me, and he smiled.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he whispered gruffly. “Is that okay?”
I couldn’t speak, my throat was filled with butterflies, my brain was on an anticipation-high. All I could manage was a nod, and that was all the permission he needed. Reed tilted my head further back, and in a world-stopping moment, he slowly pressed his lips to mine.
His lips were warm and soft, and without words, he encouraged me to open for him. He deepened his kiss and slid his tongue against mine. The strangled moan he gave almost buckled my knees.
