because it means you think about us,” she stated. “It's not so much about what we get, but that you want to give it. Don't you like to be the occupation of someone's mind?”
He had to think about that one for a moment. The depth of their conversation was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps she would do most of the work for him so he couldn't chicken out again. He reflected on a lot of things: Katie, and how badly he had wanted to be enough for her so that both of them could be happy; his family, and he'd wanted so many of the same things with them, too. Why weren't they able to see how much he desired to be 'it' for them all?
Laughing, he shook his head. “Everyone wants to feel important to the people they love. I think men go about it in a different way than women, but the end result is still the same. It's a shame you haven't ever had someone win you a prize, though. Then again, your choice in men has always been a little… um… interesting.”
****
Arial's cheeks grew even hotter than before. Why did she have to say something and start this whole thing up? “It took me a while to figure out what kind of a guy I was into. A few of them weren't all that bad. They're just impatient, and I don't think they understand me. Besides, it's hard to do things like this with your significant other when they're on the other side of the world.”
“You make time,” Bryce shrugged. “Maybe if they'd spent more time planning a real date instead of trying to get into your pants, you'd have more pleasant memories to look back on. You know how people always say don't give the milk away without having bought the cow or whatever? Well, my mom told me to make sure I earned the milk. Whether I buy the cow or not, I need to work for what I'm getting, be worthy of it. Because handouts do nobody any favors. The work is what makes the payout awesome. People don't work enough at their relationships.”
“Some people don't know when to quit either.” She gave him a pointed look.
He waved a hand at her, rolling his eyes. “Because I invested a lot into the whole thing, I'd rather fight until my last breath than quit too soon and never know. I've already admitted to staying longer than I should have. I was scared. We both were. I can accept that now. Now I've learned something from the whole thing.”
“But you tried and exhausted all of your options, too,” she said softly. There was something admirable about that. He was right; too many people did quit too soon. All of his talk about earning intimacy was sweet as well. How did he ever become such an old soul and so level-headed? So few people anywhere thought like him. Sometimes when it was just the two of them, she could swear they had been sent back to another time where the ideals they both shared were still acceptable. Nowadays, it felt like too many people were seeking immediate self-gratification over long-term joy. It disheartened her.
Bryce's gaze moved off her, and he stared straight in front of him. “Exhausted is a good word to use. Love is a lot of work, but it shouldn't be exhausting. It's gotta be like that adrenaline rush. It pushes you forward, gives you that high, and then when you're done, you feel tired but satisfied. You don’t dread it or feel beaten.”
“Agreed. Glad to be on the same page,” she said.
“I bet we're on a lot more than just one of them.”
“Huh?”
“You said you were glad to be on the same page. I think we agree on a lot more than just one page's worth of stuff. We could probably print a whole book.”
She laughed. “You and your cheesy metaphors.”
“Cheesy, yes, but I bet you'll never look at a book the same way again.” He winked and stepped ahead of her, waving for her to follow. “Speaking of cheese, I think we need to ride on the Ferris wheel. Can't get any more clichéd than that, but it's kind of necessary.”
“And why's that?”
He flashed her a bright and mischievous grin. “Because I said so. Why do you want me to divulge all of my secrets all of a sudden? Can't I maintain some of my mystery still?”
“I'm interpreting that as meaning you don't