His Reverie (Reverie #1)(39)

“Um, okay,” she whispers, nodding. Looking like she wants to believe me but she’s not quite sure if she can.

“And you’re never being stupid. I’m the stupid one,” I reassure her because damn it, it’s true. What I’m doing right now is so stupid, so risky. Her mom sees us and I’m done.

Fired. Gone. Out of her life.

Reverie smiles a little at that. “No you’re not.”

“Yeah, trust me I am. Just…don’t ask me to explain what happened. It’s all me. My own issues. You’re perfect. I hope you realize that. ” I return her smile, just basking in her presence. If that’s all I can get then I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. “Happy Birthday, Reverie.”

“Thank you,” she says, her voice so soft I almost don’t hear her. “I wish you could go to the dinner with me.”

My entire body tenses. She’s offering me something I can never have. What sucks worse is I want it. So bad, I’m tempted to say screw it and accompany her to that dinner. Wouldn’t her mom just shit if I pulled out a chair and sat right next to Reverie? If she put her hand on my arm and told her parents, “He’s my guest and he’s staying.”

It would never happen. But a man can dream.

“I don’t belong at that table,” I finally say, facing my truth. I’m not worthy. Of her, of her family, of any of them. We live on opposite sides of the world and the divide between us is so wide I don’t know why I’m even attempting this.

“Yes, you do. You’re my friend. I want you there.”

“Just your friend?” I ask, pissed at myself for even saying it.

Walk away, walk away, walk away.

I don’t move. My entire body is frozen as I wait for her answer.

“I…” She smiles prettily and lowers her lashes, like she can’t look straight at me when speaks. “I’d like us to be something more. I made a birthday wish this morning but I don’t know how you feel.”

I want more but I can’t tell her that. Can I? “A birthday wish?”

“It’s dumb. Completely immature.” She huffs out a sigh and glances over her shoulder. “I should probably go. My mom will come looking for me.”

“Tell me your birthday wish.” I should let it go but I can’t. I want to know what she wished for.

I want to know if it has to do with me.

“Really?” She flashes me a tremulous smile and I feel it to the very depth of my soul. Her uneasiness. Her fear that I’ll laugh or worse, reject her.

“Tell me.” I grab her hand and entwine our fingers, pressing my palm flat to hers. “And make it fast before your mom shows up and ruins everything.”

She giggles. “I wished for another chance with you,” she whispers, her eyes wide and full of fear. “I’ve missed you.”

I can’t do this. I shouldn’t do this. I don’t measure up. But I can’t hurt her. I don’t want to. I love how direct she is. She’s a total contradiction. Shy and direct. Sweet and sexy. “I’ve missed you too,” I admit, wishing I hadn’t the second the words fall from my lips.

Too late.

“I’d rather be with you tonight than that stupid dinner my mom planned,” she confesses.

My heart starts racing triple time. No way can she mean that. “I’ve seen what she planned for you. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it.”

“Meet me later then.” She squeezes my hand, her slender fingers strong. I can literally see her gain more strength with every word we exchange. I’m giving her hope and that is the last thing I should be doing. “In the woods by my house. In the clearing where you found me last time.”

A matching hope lights within me and I tell it to get lost. “Reverie…no way. It’ll be too late and you can’t sneak out like that. Not on your birthday.”

“Why not? I’ve snuck out before remember? They won’t know. I’ll give them an excuse and bail early. Tell them I’m not feeling very well.” She smiles and the sight of it strikes at my dumb with lust heart. “Please Nick? Do this for me? For my birthday?”

“I didn’t buy you a birthday present.” And I feel like a real ass for it too.

“Don’t you get it? You’re my birthday present.” Her smile grows. “Come on, you have to say yes. You’re what I want for my birthday. Nothing else.”

Damn. When she puts it like that…

“Won’t it be too dark to walk the trails?” I sound like an overly concerned grandma with all my protests but shit. It’s to protect her. I don’t want her to get hurt.

“It’s a full moon. You haven’t noticed how bright it is?” She steps closer to me, the scent of her enveloping me in a heady rush. With the heels on, she’s much taller. It would take nothing for me to lean down and kiss her. “I can find my way and so can you. Meet me at ten?”

“Uh…” My brain is scrambling for an excuse to give her. Anything.

But I’ve got nothing but a yes waiting to spring from my lips.

She stands on tiptoe before I can get another word out and brushes her mouth against mine, leaving a smudge of lipgloss on my lips. It smells like watermelon. “Don’t say no,” she whispers. “Please?”