Page 71 of Hurt Me Not
She took it, a slightly shocked expression crossing her face when she looked inside.
“Four of them?”
I felt oddly embarrassed about buying her so many.
“For every day you study.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “And I don’t know which flavor you’d like, so I… got you one of each. And the candy I know you like…”
A small smile pulled at her lips.
“That’s… thoughtful,” she said and placed the bag on the ground to pull out one. “Jasmine milk tea with coconut jelly, full sugar. This is my speed. And this?—"
She then pulled out the bag of sour candy, her face twisting.
“Watermelon?”
Panic shot through me.
“Do you not like them anymore?”
Her eyes shifted to mine.
“You knew… How did you know I like these?”
I rocked on my heels and cleared my throat. “I saw you devour them in high school, especially before a test. I thought you might still like them, but if you don’t?—”
“I still like them,” she said. “I can’t believe you remembered. Thanks, Emerson.”
My heart warmed at her thanks.
When she looked back at me, I nodded, then cleared my throat.
“Sit down, Emerson. I don’t bite.”
I didn’t trust myself to come too close, not before I told her what I had to say. But I took the edge of the bed.
“Pearl, I… I’m… sorry for making you cry the other day. I shouldn’t have walked out?—”
“You shouldn’t have ignored me for the past three days either?”
I smirked. She wasn’t going to let me get away with it. Her words came out in a rush.
“Because I haven’t been at the office, but I’ve been hearing you come home and go straight to your room. Even if you did make me dinner—thank you for that, by the way—you have been ignoring me. And I’m pretty sure there’s a breach of contract somewhere?—"
“Pearl, stop.” Her eyes widened when I touched her leg. And now she looked scared.
For fuck’s sake. How am I fucking up this apology too?
“If you don’t want?—"
“Don’t even go there. I’ll always want you,” I said, quickly shutting her up. I knew her mind would go there, and it was just not possible. I couldn’t stop wanting her if I tried. “You deserve more than this. More than any of it. More than… my love. It’s not that you’re unworthy of it. It’s unworthy of you. It pales in comparison to what you deserve. I…”
I’m not fucking worthy of loving you,is what I was going for. But I still couldn’t say it.
She placed her hand on top of mine.
“Thank you, Emerson. Your words are… kind.”
I nodded and got up.
