Ready or Not (Ready #4)(62)

“Inside,” I added, remembering whom I was playing with. Liv was a sneaky little thing. If we stood out here to talk, I’d find a door slammed in my face in five seconds flat.

“Fine!” she yelled.

I pulled out my keys and unlocked her door.

“You know I could do that.”

“Yeah, but then I’d probably end up with my ass on the doormat and you on the other side, sliding the chain in place to keep me out.”

“Prick.”

“Nice one.” I grinned, letting her name-calling slide off my back. At least she was talking to me.

I opened the door and stepped inside before she had a chance to scoot past me. Once I was safely in, I ushered her to join me.

“Gee, thanks.”

“Anytime.”

She dropped her purse in its normal spot on the counter and turned back toward me, obviously not taking the time to sit and get comfortable. She thought this was going to be quick.

She was so wrong.

“So, talk,” she snapped.

“I thought I should have the opportunity to explain myself.”

There was no reply. She just waited.

“Look, Liv, I don’t have a clue what’s going on in that head of yours, but I think I have a pretty good idea. Those people you ran out on tonight love you. Not a single soul in that room wanted to cause you harm. If Declan and I were talking about your father, it was only because we wanted to make sure he doesn’t hurt you.”

“I can take—”

“I know. You can take care of yourself. Goddamn, woman, would you just let me speak?”

Her mouth snapped back shut.

“I don’t know why you think me wanting to take care of you or protect you is in some way an insult to your independence. Haven’t you already proven that enough already?”

“I just don’t know if I’m cut out for this,” she whispered.

“What do you mean?”

Motioning between the two of us, she took a step forward. “You…me…us. I just don’t know if I’m meant to be in a relationship like this. It’s too much, too soon. We’re too much. I can’t handle it.”

Heart failure—that was what I felt in this moment.

“What are you saying, Liv?”

“Maybe we need a break.”

“We’ve barely even started,” I whispered.

“Then, perhaps we should just go back to being neighbors?” she suggested softly.

“You could never be just my neighbor, Liv.”

My eyes fell to the floor as I tried to come up with something to say that would make her reconsider. What could I say or do if she’d already made up her mind?

“I think I’m done talking for the evening,” I finally said, turning toward the door.

I couldn’t make her love me. Every step felt like I was walking away from a future I’d hardly begun—a life of milkshakes and practical jokes. It was something worth fighting for, but I wasn’t doing that. I was giving up.

“No,” I said, stopping just before the door.

I turned around and found tear-stained eyes staring back at me.

“No?”

Closing the distance separating us, I grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her close.

“I’m not going anywhere, Liv. I know you’re scared, and the easiest thing to do is push me away, but love is never easy. I love you, Liv, every part of you, even that fiercely independent, pain-in-the-ass side that is telling you to flee right now. You wouldn’t be you without it. But you need to trust me. You need to trust us.”

“I don’t know how,” she whispered, tears running down her cheeks.

“Trust this.” I tenderly touched my lips to hers. “What do you feel?”

“Tenderness, warmth…desire,” she answered.

“Go deeper,” I instructed before kissing her again. I gave her everything in that kiss—my heart, soul, and future.

When I pulled back, she was smiling.

“Happiness…pink flamingos…love.”

“That’s my girl,” I said gently. “Welcome to the other side.”

We spent the rest of the night together discovering just how much love could be found in each other’s arms.

~Jackson~

“I need a drink,” I said, feeling defeated.

Liv sat down next to me on the couch. “It’s not that bad, Jackson.”

“Says you.”

She rested her head on my shoulder, and I caressed her thigh as I listened to her breathe.

“You knew this day would eventually happen,” she reminded me.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think it would actually ever really happen. It was someday and always so far in the future that I didn’t need to think about it.”

“And this summer? What kept you from thinking about it over the summer?” she asked.

“Moving, new job…you.”

“Don’t blame this on me!” She laughed.

“Can’t he be a kid just for a little longer?” I moaned.

“Jackson, he’s still a kid.”

“No, he’s a tween. They’re like mutant kids—pint-sized teenagers who listen to weird bands and talk funny. It’s f*cking scary.”