girl I wasn’t enough for the one man who was supposed to love me unconditionally. So every time something has gone wrong with a guy in my life I think about him and how much he’d hurt me. I’ve stopped looking for a replacement for my dad and I want only to stand on my own two feet for once.”
“I realize now how much my own shit has hurt you, and Corey, you are the last person I want to hurt. But I just can’t promise you what you want right now. That doesn’t mean you deserve to be led on the way I’ve done to you. I just wanted to tell you all that so you didn’t think I was some heartless bitch or something.”
Corey hopped off the table to stand directly in front of me; hands delicately pressed against either side of my face. “I could never think of you as a heartless bitch, Dani. I’m sorry for all you’ve had to go through. You don’t need to apologize to me though, you’re right—you told me in the beginning you didn’t want anything serious. I’ve just never been around another woman that has made me feel the way that you do.” A waterfall of tears fell, my deepest secrets out there for another’s ears for the first time in my life. My heart ached for the 7-year old version of myself that was left to grow up on her own. I hurt even more now that I realized that moment changed my future and made me the scared person I’ve been keeping locked deep inside me.
“I really missed you, Corey.” My tears continued to pour and his arms held me even when my sobs shook us both. “I don’t want to hurt you, but if you’ll let me—I want to be your friend.” His smiled brightened his eyes as he looked down into mine.
“I’m glad, because I didn’t know how long I was going to last without talking to you anymore.”
“What do you mean?” I sniffled obnoxiously.
“It took everything in me not to call you or just show up out of the blue. I was being a stubborn-assed guy.” Corey paused to let out a sigh, his fingers trailing down the length of my face. “But I wanted you to need me the way I need you.”
My arms found their way around his neck as I pressed myself flush against his warm, hard body.
“I do, I just can’t give you what you want.”
“Having you in my life is what I want, Dani. No matter what that means.” His soft lips caressed my forehead. “Something tells me you haven’t shared the story of your past with many before.” I shook my head.
“You trusting me with that says more than you could imagine.”
“I just couldn’t let you hate me, without knowing what has made me so screwed up.”
Corey pulled me away from him to see down into my face. “You are many things Danielle, and screwed up isn’t one of them.” With that he leaned his face down towards mine, stopping right before reaching my lips. Part of me wanted to push him away, protect him just a little longer from the mess that was me. I resolved though that he knew what I was able to give and what I couldn’t. With that I stood on my tip toes and met him the rest of the way.
Corey prolonged the kiss as the passion mounted between us; his arms held tight around me, afraid to let go. What he didn’t know, was I had no intention of going anywhere. Right here, with him was the only place I wanted to be.
His lips moved with mine and I felt my heart start up again. The numb sappy feeling that was heavy as a rock in my chest disappeared. Whether the reason was because of sharing my story or having Corey back, it didn’t matter.
The kiss broke but the eye contact didn’t. “Come home with me.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod.
The ride back to the bar was refreshing and exciting. This time the wind didn’t scare me, and driving into the unknown was thrilling, instead of terrifying. We arrived sooner than I was ready to, but at least I didn’t have to drive home alone.
From the moment we burst through his apartment door our lips locked and didn’t falter. The need to have him close was overwhelming and taking over all other thoughts. The way Corey’s mouth and hands worked against my