“You never know, you might meet someone who changes your mind?”
She’s wrong about that. “I doubt it.” I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear without thinking. “I like it just bein’ me, ya know. I love kids, but I’m just not made that way either. I’m happy just as I am.”
Gooseflesh rises on her arms at my touch and my heart rate accelerates. Her breath hitches in her chest.What’s this? Am I affecting her?
She bandages my knuckles. Completely unnecessary, but I let her anyway.
I tilt her chin to look at me. “You’re not wrong in what you said, I respect that. Most people I know your age want kids, and that’s great, but not everyone does or has to feel like they should. It’s a very personal thing.”
“It’s annoying when your family puts pressure on you to settle down and have kids, like what if you don’t want that?” she says.
“Is that what your family is like?”
She sighs. “Just my mom, but we aren’t close. I’ve always been a problem child to her.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s okay that sometimes families aren’t meant to get along. I’ve made peace with it.”
I don’t know why, but I shift toward her and gently peck her on the lips. “I’m sorry you had to do that,” I mutter, knowing I shouldn’t have kissed her immediately after I do it. She’s so lovely, I can’t help myself.
“I’m used to disappointing people.”
I don’t like how sad she sounds when she says that.“You don’t disappoint me,” I say.
“You’re biased.”
“A little.”
She presses her lips against mine, and I don’t even care about the sting anymore. “I’ve missed you,” she whispers.
I chuckle. “We see each other every day.”
“I know, but you’ve been busy.”
“Always have time for my girl.”
“Just don’t get into any more fights, okay?”
“Why?” I tease. “Are you worried about me?”
She blinks, and something shifts in her eyes. Not just concern, something else I can’t place. Her eyes almost… cloud over, or something. “You know the answer to that. Let me get you some food?—”
“Nuh, uh, what’s goin’ on in that pretty head of yours?”
“Nothing.”
“You know how I can tell you’re lyin’, Princess?”
She shakes her head.
“You can’t look at me.”
Blue eyes meet mine. “Iamlooking at you.”
“Okay, but now you’ve got that sassy attitude you use when you’re tryin’ to avoid the subject.”
She moves from my embrace, taking the bloodied swabs of cotton with her. “I’m not avoiding anything.”