Page 49 of Never Going to Care

“It’s my pleasure,” he says with so much conviction it makes my breath hitch.

It’s not a line, it’s a truth. Has anyone I’ve been with gotten pleasure from taking care of me? For showing me care?

I don’t know. I don’t think so.

How could I ever think this man doesn’t care about me? That he was never going to care about me?

It’s so clear to me now. My heart and soul respond to it with a flutter of anticipation. It’s early and it’s fast, I know it, but that doesn’t really matter. Not now. Not with him.

Every other relationship I had, there was a sense of dread and expectation of it falling apart. It wasn’t excitement, but inevitability. None of that exists here, between us.

How fucking strange is that?

We chat about other things we like to do when we’re off work. I’m surprised both of us like watching dramas and reading, though the reading isn’t exactly a surprise considering he found a book at the store as well. While he doesn’t normally go to Broadway shows, he tells me he’d love to go with me, and I soften toward him a little more.

When he tells me about the regular dinners at his parent’s house, the thought of meeting his parents makes me nervous as fuck. I try to push my reaction down as much as I can so he doesn’t notice. I must be transparent as fuck though because Hale reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. The action is full of reassurance, and I sink into the way it makes me feel.

“They’re going to love you, Celeste.” There’s a command in his words, “Don’t worry about it.”

I wince, “Don’t worry about it? They might hate me. I know how important your family is to you,” even I can hear the hysterical edge to my voice. Not a good look.

Hale starts to chuckle, but I send him a scathing look and he chokes on the sound. Fucking good. Thankfully, he does look perfectly chagrined and sheepish or else I don’t know if I could handle it.

“Starlight,” there’s something in his voice which has my spine straightening and my entire being takes notice. “I promise on my fucking life that my family will not hate you. My sisters will probably try and steal you from me. My mom will try and adopt you. My father will probably investigate if you have a proper toolbox and if you don’t then he’ll make it his life mission to make sure you have one.”

My face scrunches up. “A toolbox?” The glance Hale gives me is one of pure horror as if my confusion indicates that I don’t have one and the thought is beyond abhorrent. I quickly add, “I have one. I’m not some ditzy chick with tits who doesn’t know the difference between a flat head and a Philips head either.”

Hale buts in, pride infusing his voice, “Good girl.”

I huff, but the reality is that those two words pull a reaction from me I don’t even know how to describe. I desperately want to hear him growl it as his cock is filling me and I’m being his good girl. I squeeze my thighs together at the thought.

So damn good.

I clear my throat and try and get back on track. “I just mean, why a toolbox?”

Hale barks out a laugh as he parks. When he does, he turns toward me, and his eyes glaze over with a look he always gets when he talks about his family—deep affection. I love that look in his eyes.

“My dad can be kind of old school sometimes. He does believe a woman should rely on her man for certain things, fixing things does fall under that category.” I open my mouth, about to spout off some firebombing of the misogynistic viewpoint Hale just highlighted, but before I can get myself all worked up, he holds a hand up. “However, he also thinks women should know how to do those things and, if they don’t have a man to rely on, have the right tools for the job if they need to do it. He taught my sisters a lot of basics so they wouldn’t need to rely on a man. He’s all for female empowerment.”

My heart softens and I nod before a big smile grows on my face. My voice is full of sass, “I would think he’d have to be considering how outnumbered he is.”

Hale smirks at me and leans over, kissing me softly, but it’s not nearly enough. Will I ever get enough of him? I doubt it.

“That right there, your fire, your sass, is another reason my family will adore you,” he whispers against my lips.

Anxiety and nerves still rush through my system, but his faith in me and his belief in how his family will feel about me does help to settle me. It’s not enough, but it’ll have to do for now. I’ve always been that person to worry about something until I go through it. Once I do, I’m fine, but the leadup can suck.

I make a noncommittal humming sound. I can’t do more than that. “So, where are we going?”

I change the subject with zero grace or dexterity. Hale’s eyes light up with amusement, but he lets it go. I can see thefor nowshining in his eyes. It’s a challenge to me and he knows it, he also knows how I react to challenges.

I love him so much for it.

Holy shit. I shove those feelings away to analyze later because if I let myself do it now then I’m liable to blurt it out. But wow. Definitely need to unpack that realization later.

Hale slipping out of the SUV before coming around to my side gives me a moment to get my shit together. I’m slightly surprised I don’t blurt it out the moment he opens the door. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself, but it’s still right there, just at the tip of my tongue.

“It’s a surprise,” he answers my question as he starts to lead me down the street.

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