not your future, El?”
“I guess, but –”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t take you at your word?”
“No! I’m done with all that.”
“Okay, I believe you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I do. I’m the only one here who’s done anything that needs to be forgiven. And I’m still hoping that you’re going to give me a second chance.”
“I want to, so much,” she whispers.
“I know I’m going to have to work to earn back your trust.”
She lets out a contented sigh and I smile into her hair.
“Does that sound mean you’re going to forgive me?”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“A million times yes, Opal, as long as you promise to be patient with me. I have zero experience with being a boyfriend.”
She stills in my arms. “You have a daughter. How can you not have experience?”
I squeeze her tighter as if I’m afraid she’ll bolt. Considering everything that she’s confessed tonight, I have no right to keep this to myself. “I don’t think the experiences of a fifteen year old count.”
“Fifteen?” She looks up at me, obviously confused. And rightfully so, since I’ve told her so little about myself.
I grin at her sheepishly. “Yeah.”
“But your daughter is . . .”
“Almost seven,” I finish for her.
“But that would mean you’re only twenty-two.” She sounds a bit horrified.
“Only?” Even if she took two years off of school she can’t be that much older than I am.
She lets out a strained, disbelieving laugh.
“What?” I ask, perplexed.
“I’ll be twenty-seven soon.”
Uh? After a few beats all I can do is laugh, though it holds a lot more joy than hers did. Almost immediately my amusement cuts off as she wriggles her way off my lap.
“Opal,” I call as she disappears down the hall. “Come back. Let’s talk about this.”
I’m about to go in search of her when she reappears holding a roll of toilet paper. Flopping herself down on the opposite end of the couch, she proceeds to wipe her tears. Then, leveling me with a dejected glare, she demands, “You mind telling me why you find this funny?”
I give her a bright smile. “My best friend, Jorgie, is convinced I have a thing for older women. And now I’ve proven him right. He’s never going to let me live this down.”
She studies me for a moment. “It doesn’t freak you out?”
“Not at all,” I tell her honestly. “Does it freak you out?”
“I guess not . . . it just doesn’t make much sense. You’re so together. When I was twenty-two I was a complete disaster.”
“Ha ha,” I say, the sarcasm dripping. “Clearly, you overestimate me. I almost messed up one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”
And she’s back to wide-eyed hurt.
“Hey, I meant what I said,” I say softly. “I won’t disappear again.”
She’s still worried, but she looks a lot more like herself than she did when I arrived, seeming to take me at my word after a few moments of consideration. “Will you tell me about fifteen year old Scott?”
“That’s a pretty self-explanatory story,” I tell her ruefully. “My girlfriend and I both thought she was on birth control. It hadn’t taken effect yet. We were stupid. But I wouldn’t change a thing even if I could. Rosa means the world to me.”
She nods, like it makes perfect sense. “Which is why you’re so responsible and work so hard.”
“Yeah, probably. I’d do anything for her.”
“It might sound crazy, but I envy that kind of motivation. I’ve always felt . . . adrift, I guess.”
I reach for her hand and she lets me pull her back into my arms. I hate seeing her sad and defeated. With her head tucked under my chin, I promise myself I’ll do everything in my power to avoid hurting her in the future.
Ellie
I expected excuses from him, I got confessions. I expected trite and superficial, I got heartfelt and deep. Then after confessing my worst sins, I expected him to make a bee line for the door. Yet somehow he’s up-ended it all.
I’m worried I should still have my guard up, but after the aching emptiness of the past week and tonight’s emotionally exhausting heart-to-heart, I don’t have the energy. For now, I’m going to allow myself to soak up the warmth of his presence and the strength of his arms . . . and the way his dick is beginning to press against my thigh since I’m sitting on his lap. The idea that maybe he’s not off-limits anymore sparks to life inside of me, but I