Cooped Up for Christmas - Sabrina York Page 0,14
want that.
I drew in a fortifying breath. “People don’t tease me about that anymore. I don’t allow it.”
He set one hand on either side of my face, holding me gently. “People don’t tease you about what, Vic?”
Why did he seem genuinely confused? Wasn’t it right before his eyes?
Granted, he’d only known me for one summer, a long time ago, and it had been one of my skinnier summers, if the photo album held true. Could he not have known?
I set my hands on his. “I’m sorry. I should explain.”
“Okay.” He held my gaze.
“When I was a kid, I was teased because I was chubby. It didn’t get better as I grew up. I’ve always struggled with my weight.”
He looked me up and down. “What’s wrong with your weight?”
Seriously? “Do you live in this society?”
“Listen, if you’re healthy and happy—”
“Yes. That’s what they say. But my point is, I struggled with this a long time and then I realized I was never going to win, because I was fighting on the wrong battlefield. My happiness never depended on my weight. It depended on loving myself no matter what.”
Yes. I realize I was starting to sound as though I should burst into song like a Disney princess or something, but it was true. Once I really liked myself, then loved myself, it was easy to see what made me happy, and what did not. I simply no longer tolerated things that made me unhappy.
Coop’s eyes warmed as he took a step closer, but I held him up with a finger.
“Not done yet. There’s more,” I said. “Once I became happy in my own skin—as it were—I found it much easier to stand up for myself. And that is what I am doing now. I’m letting you know this is a sensitive issue for me, and very politely asking you not to make fun of me about it, in any way shape or form, because I respect you, and I would be disappointed if you did not respect me too.”
His smile faded, but not in a bad way. Maybe because there was still a smile in his eyes. “I thank you for letting me know this is a sensitive issue for you. I very humbly apologize for any offense, which I assure you, was unintended. Can you forgive me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He took my arm as we resumed our walk toward the shrubbery. “But to be perfectly honest?”
“Yeah?”
“I kinda like a woman with curves.” His breath was warm in my ear.
I pushed him away with a laugh. “Oh, stop.”
“I’m serious.”
Before I knew what happened, he’d pulled me into his arms and—froze. Then, he very primly released me and primly kissed my nose. “I should mention, I do find you very attractive.”
I blew out a frosty gust of a breath. “I thought we had this conversation. You know? About working together?”
“We did. But during that conversation, I neglected to mention that I find you extremely attractive too— That was what you said, right? You found me extremely attractive but—”
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t say extremely—”
“But you wanted a raincheck—”
“I never said raincheck!”
“For next week.”
“That is not what I said.”
“Oh, you definitely said next week.”
“I think you said next week.”
His eyes glinted. “What? Have you changed your mind? Ready to give it a go now? Just say the word.” He held out his arms in welcome. The thought of what that welcome could mean made a warm slurry swirl in my gut.
Damn, he was tempting.
“I have to work,” I hissed at him. And then, in a snippy tone, “And you have snow on your head. It looks like dandruff.”
In response, he shook said snow all over me.
Don’t you hate it when you’re annoyed at someone, and then the person you’re annoyed at makes you laugh?
Yeah. Me too.
Chapter Five
Coop and I came into the staff kitchen together, and though this issue really wasn’t resolved between us, we could hardly continue now, because Mungo and Christie were there. And Mason. Heaven forbid I forget to mention him, He Who Has an Unnatural Attraction to my Crotch.
I deftly avoided that cold snout and headed to the stove. While my water for tea was boiling, Coop and his team headed outside to go through their gear for tomorrow. I watched him go with a conflicted heart.
On the one hand, it was great to see him again, play with him again. But on the other hand, he scared me. He’d hurt me before. And now, the way I was feeling? I knew