Page 18 of Lovesick
Boom. Everything manly in him came to life and he swore under his breath.
“I have to go,” he said as panic set in on the heels of the overwhelming knowledge that she’d rocked his world. And he was not ready for world-rocking. Not now.
“I don’t know.” He shifted away from her and jumped from bed to find his pants with his phone and checked the time.
“Shit.”
“How late?”
“Almost midnight. I have to go.” He started dressing and she sat up and watched him.
“Babysitter waiting?” Her smile had disappeared and her voice was neutral. He realized he was behaving like a shithead after the monumental intimacy they’d shared. He owed her more than to flee from her bed the minute he awoke.
But that was the problem, wasn’t it? He couldn’t afford to give her what she deserved, on so many levels. Slipping his new shirt over his head he came back to the bed and sat on the edge. A decent goodbye kiss was the least he could do.
“I’m sorry, Lou, for the abrupt departure. I do have to get home.”
“I know. I’m sorry I fell asleep like that. We never had a chance to go out.” She smiled again, that same warm you’re the only man in the world smile she’d given him when she first woke up, only now she was fully awake and meant it. He felt the full impact.
Felt euphoric and miserable at the same time. He didn’t deserve it. He couldn’t possibly be what or who she was looking for. He wasn’t from the same world, not his upbringing, not professionally, and not familywise. He had Tim. She had Regal Company.
In spite of these thoughts running through his head, making his chest tighten, he leaned down and, cupping her cheek with one hand, gave her a soft kiss.
“Good night, Lou. Sleep well.”
She sighed and he rose from the bed, feeling the tug to stay, immediately followed by anxiety pushing him to leave. Damn, damn, damn.
He picked up his jacket on his way and let himself out.
As he hit the street outside her building the cold air slapped him like a shot of reality. His newly complicated reality.
What the hell had he just done?
