Page 85 of Hiss and Make Up
Puck. Definitely a Puck.
She brought the towel inside, keeping Puck out a little longer. Bathing him had improved the situation, but she was pretty sure Marc wouldn’t be pleased with wet dog prints across his kitchen floor. She pushed her foot in the doorway to block him while she slid the door closed.
“Later, dude. I promise.”
She avoided looking at the clock or the window as she walked past the living room. Worrying about Marc's walk-through with the arson investigator wouldn’t speed anything up.
Besides, she wasn’t exactly looking forward to the conversation she needed to have with Marc. He’d told her to choose, and she’d chosen. The only choice she could live with.
Sierra threw the towel in the washing machine and turned it on. When she closed the lid and turned around, Marc was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. The running water must have drowned out his footsteps on the linoleum.
“You’re still here.” His face was tight, but his dark eyes were hopeful.
“I am,” she said. “What did the arson guy say?”
He shook his head. “Later. This is more important.”
“Does that mean that how much you tell me depends on what my answer is? Are we back to that?” She crossed her arms. “Are you writing me off again?”
“No. Again, I’m sorry about that.” He bit his lip for a second, and she’d never been so jealous of someone else’s teeth. “After you tell me your decision, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. I’m not playing games, and I’m not going to try to be your protector. I want you safe, but if you want to help with this investigation, that’s your choice. I’m not going to push you away or block you out. Not anymore. I promise.”
She swallowed, feeling her mouth going dry again. He was saying everything she needed and wanted to hear, but it wasn’t enough to change her mind about anything. She still had to tell him how she felt, and she had to live with his reaction.
“Then I choose you," she said. "Us. I choose us.” His face lit up and his mouth rose with the beginnings of a smile. She raised a hand. “Wait. Let me finish.”
He set his jaw and nodded.
“I choose ustoday. Not a second chance for those kids on that swing. A first chance for us. You and me. Right now.”
Marc took a breath and his shoulders relaxed. “I like that.”
“Good.” She picked at nonexistent dust on the top of the washing machine. “But you also need to know that I can’t live up to any serene, domestic fantasy you might have. I’m promising me as I am. I can’t change for you. I won’t. So if you’re looking for the kids, the picnics, the block parties, or me baking cakes…I can’t promise those.”
She took a deep breath and swallowed again. The words tumbled out of her mouth, but with every pause for breath, the urge to run grew exponentially. Every cell in her body screamed at her to run before he could reject her.
But she held her ground. She was tired of running, and she was finally ready to accept that Marc was worth sticking around for. He was worth the risk and the heartbreak and the fear.
Her stomach lurched and that orange soda fought to come back up. Now she was the one holding her breath, waiting for his move. For a while, he didn’t do or say anything. He only stood in the doorway, staring back at her.
After a few torturous moments, Marc walked across the laundry room until he was nose to nose with her. He put his hands on her hips and said, “I’m more of a pie guy, anyway.”
Sierra fought a smile and shook her head. “No pies either. Unless you plan on making them.” He leaned his forehead against hers, but she pulled her head back to look him in the eyes. “I mean it. I’m not changing my mind on the whole kids and family thing. I know that’s jumping the gun here, but I need you to know that from the start.”
He moved back until there was a foot between them and only his fingertips touched her hips. Twice he started to say something and stopped himself.
“Just say it.” That orange soda really would come up if he didn’t hurry up and tell her he’d changed his mind. She could live with his decision, but she couldn’t live with him dragging this out.
“I’m thinking.”
She crossed her arms and frowned. “Don’t hurt yourself thinking too hard.”
“Give me a break, huh? You had the whole time I was next door to think of your answer. Can I at least have a few seconds to process this?”
“Fine, that’s fair,” she said with an edge to her voice. If he was going to turn her down anyway, this was a cruel way to do it. “But you’ve had a few seconds now. Thoughts?”
He tilted his chin up and looked down at her, his eyes playful and devilish. “I think making you wait is fun.”
“And I think you’re a jerk.” It was her turn to grin, despite herself. “So are you in or not, Dugas?”
