“Really? You still want to be together when you go back?”
My brows furrow. “Um … yes. You thought I’d break up with you once I go back to California?”
She shrugs. “I figured you wouldn’t want to be tied down with a girlfriend. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not what I hoped for. I want to stay together, but I figured going back to that … environment, you’d want to be free to do as you pleased.”
My hands fist on top of the table. I feel irrationally angry she assumed I’d end things so I could go back to L.A. and fuck my way through town.
“Don’t be mad,” she pleads.
“I’m not mad,” I defend. “Okay, a little mad, but mostly hurt. I thought you understood this is different for me. I’ve never had a girlfriend, Mia. Not even in high school—not even a silly elementary schoolyard girlfriend. I don’t take what we’re doing lightly. Yeah, I won’t lie, I was attracted to you from the beginning and only thought about sleeping with you, but as I got to know you I knew one night wouldn’t be enough, not when you were the first girl I could picture myself having a future with.”
“You see a future with me?”
“Fuck,” I scrub a hand over my jaw, “I see it all—you walking down the aisle in a white dress, a house, kids, pets, all of it. I used to think I was the kind of guy who would never settle down. It wasn’t something I thought I wanted or needed—then I met you and I realized when you find your person it changes your perspective on everything. Suddenly you want things you never wanted before. I want to be a better man for you. No, not for you—because of you.”
She sniffles. “You made me cry in Waffle House. I hate you.” She wipes away a tear.
I can’t help but chuckle. “I didn’t mean to get sappy on you, but it’s true. Don’t get me wrong, I see those things far in the future—I promise not to drag you into a church tomorrow, but I do see it. One day.”
“I can see it too,” she confesses on a whisper. “It scares me,” she admits.
“It scares me too,” I agree. “But I’d be more worried if we weren’t afraid of this.”
“I’ve never felt what I feel for you before … and so quickly too.”
I grin. “When it’s meant to be it’s meant to be, baby.”
She tosses a napkin at me. “Don’t be an ass.”
I laugh and pick up the napkin. “Sorry, I had to lighten the mood. It got too serious.”
She shakes her head. “I should punch you.”
I rub my jaw. “And mess up this fine specimen? I think not.”
She laughs, drying the last of her tears. “Thank you for making me laugh.”
“Thank you for teaching me to love.”
She starts tearing up again. “Stop it—Jesus I hope I’m starting my period and not just being a little bitch.”
I laugh way too loud at her words.
“What’s so funny?” Our waitress asks setting down our plates of food. My three plates to Mia’s one is comical.
“My girlfriend is a comedian,” I say.
She looks at Mia and then turns to glare at me. “Then why is she crying?”
I hold my hands up innocently, my eyes threatening to bug out. “I was being sweet and she started crying.”
“I really need some chocolate,” Mia sighs desperately.
“Got any chocolate?” I ask just as desperately.
The waitress laughs. “We have chocolate pie.”
“Bring one—two, stat,” I add when Mia glares. “Actually make it three, I want one too and my girl here needs two.”