“Why? I don’t understand.” I run my finger down his jaw. “If you wanted me that night I confessed everything, we could have been doing this all along.”
“Meadow, you were young, and let's not forget you’d been drinking.”
“I wasn’t that young,” I huff, knowing he might be a tiny bit right. “You could have said we needed more time. I thought you didn’t want me.”
“Did you really ever believe that, Meadow? Truly?”
The question makes me pause, and I don’t think I did. When I recall us being out at events and women hitting on him, he never gave them the time of day, and his eyes would always find me. I only had a twinge of doubt when I saw that blonde twice.
“It was hell, but I had to do it,” he confesses.
“Why would you—”
“Hear me out,” he says, and I seal my lips shut. “No, one is more determined than you. If I’d told you I wanted you back then, you would have wanted it all at that moment, and I knew I would have taken it. All of it. You see how I am with you now? One kiss and there’s no turning back. I knew that then, and you didn’t deserve it. I had to let you go for a little while because I never wanted you to have any regrets. You and your sister didn’t need to miss out on things you should have done together.”
My eyes burn at his sweet reasoning. “Why now?”
“I promised our parents I’d hold off until you graduated. I knew there was an end date coming, and it was the only thing that kept me in check.”
“What if I would have found someone else or you—”
“Found someone else?!” He pushes me harder into the bathroom wall. “I never entertained the idea. You know I’ve never been with anyone, and there’s only one reason for that. It’s not only because I know it would have killed any chance of a future with you but also because I’ve never wanted anyone else.”
“I’ve never wanted anyone else either.”
“I know. Which is why that little fucker Alex lives to breathe another day.”
“Hey, I could have—” He silences me with a kiss, and although I expect it to be hard and punishing, it’s sweet and calm.
“Liar. I know you, Doe. You never settle for less than what you want.”
“You can’t make people love you.” That's what I would try and tell myself.
“That might be true,” Heath agrees. “But I’d die trying if it came to that. When it comes to you, I’ll do whatever it takes.”