“Yeah,” Gwen continued. “Some ass who she has nothing in common with, who doesn’t listen to her, doesn’t care for her, and expects her to wait on him.”
She watched in amusement as my jaw clenched.
“Kayla told me how sweet you were with her.
How you took her outside for fresh air, and how you held her tight to pin her down when she was dizzy. You fed her smoothies to make sure she was getting her vitamins to help her heal.” Gwen looked at me with an expression that was almost… sweet? “You’re good for her, Liam. Stop being a fucking asshole and get your girl.”
“I can’t.”
“Don’t make me pull out the baseball bat.”
“Listen,” I started, then I stopped. “I can’t tell you.”
“You can and you will, right now. Give me every reason why you’re not good for her.”
“Look at me,” I shrugged. “She deserves–”
“That’s not up to you,” Gwen said sharply, snapping her fingers nearly in my face. “She wants you, and you treat her well. She’s allowed to choose who she wants. Next point.”
I hated it when she quizzed me. “Okay, her family and friends are going to look at me like–”
“Wrong,” she interrupted. “She’s not close to her family, and her best friend is in Australia. Kayla isn’t the sort of person to give a crap what others think. Next point.”
My eyes dropped to my hands, balled into fists on my thighs. “I can’t tell you.”
“You can and you will, right now. I’m a nurse. I’ve seen and heard pretty much everything.”
As much as I couldn’t possibly share this with my older sister, I knew that she’d pester me about it until the end of time if I didn’t.
“We will never, ever discuss this again in any capacity.”
“Promise.”
I had to blow out a long, slow breath, and think of a way to say it in the least embarrassing way. “The… amount and intensity of lust that I feel for her… is something that I’m not sure I could control one hundred percent at all times.”
I was expecting Gwen to roll her eyes in disgust, not double over howling with laughter.
“You think… what? That you’re so hot for her you might get a bit rough?” She finally pulled herself together. “You know, a lot of girls really like that if it’s with a guy they trust completely.”
My eyes darted around, wishing for somewhere to stretch out and die from embarrassment.
“Liam, you wouldn’t hurt her. Not in a bad way. Not ever. No matter what wacky little caveman urges you think you have, once she was in front of you, you would never hurt her. You’d ask. You’d test the waters, and gauge her reaction.” Gwen cocked her head. “She’s pretty shy about some things though. Was she open with you?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I thought of Kayla crying in my arms, completely letting go. My shoulders almost twitched from the need to hold her.
Gwen was watching my eyes. “I know you’d listen to her, no matter what was going on. You’re a kind, loving man, and you’ve always treated women well.”
“I try.”
“You do. So, you know, deep in your heart, that you’d never hurt her. No matter how strong your… whatever. Impulses, let’s say.”
I hugely appreciated her keeping the conversation as clinical as possible.
“Alright, tough guy, what else?”
“I guess that’s it,” I shrugged.
She pursed her lips. “Well then, you’re going to have to set up a time to chat with her and tell her your fears in person.”