Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
“I know. I know that, but it’s not easy.”
“You can do it. I have faith in you.”
Chapter Eight
Zeke
I think I have everything ready.
Except myself.
Because I’m nervous as fuck.
Cherry pissed me off so badly last night that I almost called off the entire relationship. While up all night, going over everything in my head, I wondered if the constant bantering and hurt feelings are worth it with her.
But then I also remembered all the good times we’ve had lately, which far outweigh the bad, and I started to miss her like crazy.
When I saw her in the hall earlier, it was a punch to the solar plexus. And I knew without a doubt that I’d do anything in my power to have her because no one in my entire life has ever made me feel as alive as Cherry has.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on my door, and I frown. I’m not expecting anyone, and Cherry should be at the girls’ night thing for a while yet.
But when I answer it, there she is, wide-eyed and looking as nervous as I feel.
“You’re back.”
“Yeah.” She swallows hard and wrings her hands. “Can I please come in?”
“Sure.” I step back, and she walks across the threshold, then gasps.
“What’s this?”
“Well, you’re early, so the surprise isn’t all finished yet, but it’s for you.”
I follow her gaze, taking in the unlit candles, the flowers, and the table set for dessert. Because she’s here early, there’s even a killer sunset happening on the water below.
Without a word, she turns and throws herself into my arms, holding on tightly enough to stay on a bucking bronco.
“I’m so sorry,” she says, her voice full of tears. “I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve what I said last night at all, and I was a complete jerk because I got nervous and probably a little irritated, but mostly nervous.”
“Whoa, baby.” Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss the top of her head. “We’ll talk in a second. First, this feels good.”
“Yeah.” But she can’t stay still long before she pulls back and looks up at me. “Okay, we need to talk now because it’s making me crazy.”
“Let’s sit. Do you want something to drink?”
“Water. Water would be good.”
“You got it.”
Cherry perches on my couch, and I walk into the kitchen to grab a couple of waters, then join her, taking the seat across from her.
Because if I sit next to her, I’ll just snuggle her, and we have some things to clear up first.
“Thanks.” She sips, then sets the bottle aside. “I feel really awful. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I think that a year of that is enough.”
“Agreed. But we always seem to dissolve into an argument or a misunderstanding of some kind, and I don’t want that either.”
“I get defensive,” she admits softly. “And that’s stupid because you’ve done nothing but show me that you have my back and that you understand me.”
“Old habits die hard.”
“Yeah, well, they need to die completely, because if they don’t, this relationship won’t work. Words matter, Zeke, and I said some really hurtful things to you last night.”
“Yes, you did.”
Her eyes fill with tears again.
“I’m so sorry. You were being so sweet, and I would love to live here with you. I mean, sure, we’re moving pretty fast, but we’re adults, and the bottom line is…I love you, too.”
My heart stops, and I hold my breath. This is exactly what I’d needed to hear last night.
“I think you and everyone else are right about the business,” she continues as if she didn’t just make everything in the world right again. “It scares me, but I think I can make a good living from what I create, and I’d like the chance to try. But, Zeke, I wasn’t lying last night when I said I’m not a kept woman. I want to help financially because that’s what a partnership is.”
“Okay.”
She blinks at me. “Okay?”
“Sure. You want to pay the utilities? That’s fine with me. Groceries? Great. But what I was trying to say last night is that I want you to have the opportunity to pursue your passion without worrying about bills, even if it’s just once in your life. I understand needing stability. But, sweetheart, that’s me. I’m your stability.”
“You’re too far away.”
Cherry hurries over to me and climbs into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I was so worried that I’d fucked it all up for good,” she whispers, burying her face in my neck. “And I had to come here to grovel.”
“I was going to apologize tonight,” I admit. “Give you flowers and tiramisu and figure out a way to make it all work.”
“You have tiramisu?” Her head comes up, and she smiles. “You are trying hard. But you don’t need to apologize.”
“Yeah, I do. Because I didn’t explain myself well, I just started talking, saying what I want, but I didn’t give you time to come around to it. We didn’t have an adult conversation about it.”