Page 93 of Miss Understanding

“Wait. What is this about?” He’d closed the gap between us and put his fingers under my chin. Urging me to look at him.

“I can’t do this.” It came out as a whisper.

“Can’t do what?”

My Uber driver was ten minutes out. I turned, walking down the stairs in search of my shoes. I only stopped at the large entry mirror where I tried to do something with my hair that didn’t scream I’d been fucked senseless.

He followed me down. “Kendall, talk to me. Please.”

He deserved an explanation, even if it wasn’t fully baked. “I want more.”

“More what?”

“Thursday was Valentine’s Day.”

Both his brows went sky high. “You’re upset tonight because I didn’t do anything for you on Valentine’s Day?”

“Yes. No. I mean it’s more than that. It’s the fact you don’t want to get breakfast, dinner, or walk on the beach together.”

If I was truly being honest, my strained emotions involved more than my settling for a non-relationship with him. It was about me settling, period. I had dreams, but I wasn’t close to pursuing them. Instead, I’d been content to simply go along with life instead of getting what I wanted out of it. Our non-relationship was an example of a bigger problem.

He raked a hand through his short hair. “This isn’t a relationship. We agreed on it.”

His tone implied I was the one changing the rules. He wasn’t wrong. “I know we did. But I also said I’d tell you if it became too much.”

“It’s too much because I missed a Hallmark holiday?”

Leave it to him to miss the point. Then again, I hadn’t given him a lot to go on. “It’s my birthday next month. It’s my nan’s birthday in April, and we’re throwing her a party. I knew what this was, but I realize it’s not enough for me any longer.”

“You want a boyfriend?” He said the B-word like it was dirty.

“Yes. And I can tell by your tone that’s not what you want.”

“We work together.”

Of course, he would be most worried about how this would affect him at work. If I’d ever doubted his priorities, this slammed it home. “I know. And don’t worry. It’ll remain professional.” I reached up to kiss his cheek. “Goodbye, Liam.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Liam

My feet were rooted to the spot. I was completely at a loss how Kendall and I had gone from entangled in my bed to me watching her bolt out my door. My heart was in my throat, my adrenaline pumping, my mind racing. The thought of her leaving brought on unexpected panic. I couldn’t take it.

Finally, my feet caught up with my brain, propelling me into motion. I wasn’t sure what the hell I would give her long term, but in this moment, all I knew for certain was I couldn’t let her leave. Couldn’t let her walk out of my life.

I quickly pulled up my slacks, not bothering with a shirt, and sprinted down my stairs and outside to my driveway. I was in time to see her opening the back door of a black Toyota Prius, which I assumed was her Uber.

“Wait, Kendall. Please don’t go.”

She hesitated, glancing toward the driver, then back to me, allowing me to close the gap. “Liam, I—”

“Stay so we can talk. If you don’t like what I have to say, then I’ll drive you home myself.” I had no idea what words I’d use, but the thought of her getting in the Uber and driving away from me evoked such a pang of loss I had to think of something.

“Please.” I threw in the last word on a whisper, desperate in a way I’d never experienced. I needed her to come back inside. To not leave me.

“Okay, um—” She looked toward the driver.

Thankfully, my trousers still had my wallet in them. I grabbed it, pulling out some cash, not bothering to count it. “Sorry for your trouble.”