Page 109 of The Persistence of Thornes
I wring my hands, unsure of what to do with them. “Okay,” I finally reply.
He cocks his head, lips pressed together, eyes dancing with amusement.
“Did I fuck the English language out of your brain? Are you only capable of one-word responses after last night?”
“No, I just…” Cheeks heating, I inhale deeply. “Last night was… it was intense.” I look down at my bare feet. Intense probably isn’t the correct word, but yeah, maybe he did scramble my brain.
With a finger hooked through my belt loop, he tugs me close. When I don’t look up, he lets go and uses that same digit to carefully raise my chin. “It was for me too.”
“I’ve never…” My throat closes up, making it hard to breathe, but I force the words out anyway. “It’s never felt like that before.”
“I know, baby.” With a soft smile, he angles in and kisses me. It’s just a peck, but it’s oddly intimate. Maybe it’s the quickness of it, the simplicity, like we have all the time in the world and therefore he doesn’t need to linger. “Get the plates out,” he directs as he turns back to his food.
Thankful for a task to put my mind to, I set out the plates and utensils at the kitchen table. We normally eat at the counter, but after last night, this meal is one we should sit at the table for.
“Orange juice?” I ask as I pluck the carton from the shelf on the fridge.
“Orange juice is great.” He nods. “This is almost ready.”
I swipe two glasses from the cabinet and set them on the table, along with the juice. “Need any more help?”
He shakes his head. “I think all we need now is coffee. Want to pour?”
Coffee sounds like an excellent idea. While I slept more soundly than ever and Caleb let me sleep in, we were up late, and our middle-of-the-night activities mean I didn’t quite get a full night. I snag a mug from the cabinet, then another, bobbling it when it slips from my hand. Before it can crash to the floor, I grasp it firmly and set it on the counter, sighing in relief.
“How is it possible that you’re still nervous around me after last night?” He appears at my side, his hand steadying my shaking fingers. “I know it’s not because you’re afraid of me, Halle. So, what is it, exactly?”
“I’m scared,” I admit.
He carefully plucks the mug from my hand, then fills both with coffee.
“Scared?” He shuffles to the fridge and grabs creamer. “Of me?” He pours until the coffee is more beige than brown, just the way I like it.
“No.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and take the mug from his outstretched hand. “Of…” I drop my gaze to the steaming liquid, taking a moment to gather my thoughts.
Thankfully Caleb doesn’t press me.
He’s still waiting with a patient expression on his facewhen I force myself to look at him. “I never thought I’d meet someone that makes me crave a normal life.”
Brows knitted, he picks up the spatula and slides pancakes off the griddle and onto a plate. They’re a little too done but not burned.
He greases the griddle again, then pours batter for another batch. “What does that mean?”
I take a sip of coffee, savoring the contrast between it and the sweetness of the creamer. “My whole life, my mom bounced from one man to another. Like if she could just findthe one, that love would fix her. But I swear each guy was worse than the last. It made me wary of traditional relationships—marriage and babies, the whole thing. I’ve told myself since I was old enough to see what was happening that I wouldn’t let anything keep me from being my own person. That I wouldn’t get lost in someone else the way she did.”
Hurt flashes in Caleb’s eyes. “Are you saying I’m a waste of time?” He swallows audibly, the spatula in his hand trembling. “I’m a little confused here, Hal.”
“No.” Heart lurching, I shake my head. “God, no. That’s not what I meant. I… God, I suck at explaining things. I just meant that I never thought I’d meet someone who’d make me want to settle down. To think about the serious things.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “So, what you’re saying is you see a future with me?”
I shrug, trying not to appeartooeager. Regardless of how I feel, we haven’t known each other long, so that makes me cautious. Then again, my grandma was eighteen whenshe met my grandpa. They were married a month later and had a loving marriage. I guess, as ridiculous as it can sound, love at first sight really does exist.
Head bowed, I peer up at him. “Yeah, I do.”
Caleb grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in, kissing my forehead. “Don’t overthink it.”
My first instinct is to bristle at the accusation, but I’m evolving, allowing myself to grow and lower my walls, so instead, I allow myself to appreciate just how well he knows me.
