Page 75 of Inked Heart
“Unfortunately, it is.Respect for relationships seems rare these days.”I sigh and lean back on my hands.The sky has turned a deeper shade of orange now as the sun slowly sinks toward the horizon.“You know what else is weird?”I say.
“What?”
“I don’t miss him.”
Damien studies my face carefully.“Not at all?”
“No.”The answer is blunt and honest.
“That might change.”
“Maybe.But right now I feel like I just stepped out of a room that was too small.”
“That’s a good way to describe it.”
“I didn’t realize how much space I needed until I had it.”
He nods slowly.“You deserve space.You deserve someone who listens when you talk.You deserve someone who doesn’t make you feel like you’re too much or not enough.”
The words hit deeper than he probably intended because that’s exactly how the last year of my relationship with Emette felt.Like I was constantly trying to adjust myself to fit into his expectations.
“I forgot what it feels like to just ...be myself,” I admit quietly.
“You never stopped being yourself.”
“It felt like I did.”
“Not to me.”
I look over at him.“Why not?”
“Because every time you walked into the shop with cupcakes and that bright smile...”He shrugs slightly.“You lit the whole place up.”
“That’s a lot of pressure.”
“It’s not pressure.It’s just you.”
My chest warms again.“Damien?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re very good at saying the right thing.”
“I’m just saying what I think.”
“Well, keep doing that.”I like hearing what he thinks.
“Deal.”
The sun dips lower behind the trees and golden light stretches across the lake like a painted path.“This is the part where people usually have a second kiss,” I say casually.
He raises an eyebrow.“Oh?”
“That’s what happens in movies,” I tease.
“Are we in a movie?”he teases in return.
“Probably not.”
