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“Yes, okay, that’s a good idea.” She looks up at me. “Thank you so much for your help. It makes me feel better knowing you’re here.”
“I’m glad to be of service.”
She gives me a wry smile, and we walk in silence for a bit.
“You’re quiet,” I say eventually. “Busy thinking about the shop?”
“Yes… and no. I feel a bit tongue-tied,” she admits.
I chuckle. “Really?”
“Don’t tease me. It’s just strange to look back on the past few years and see a lot of what’s happened through a different lens, you know? Part of me resents my father for stopping you from talking to me on the day of the wedding… and I think how different things might have been if I’d not married Jayden… and then I realise that means I wouldn’t have had Millie… it’s so strange. I keep going around in circles.”
“Welcome to my world. Been doing that for years.”
She looks away, across the park. “I don’t know what to do.”
“About what?”
She turns her big brown eyes back to me. “About you. I like being with you.” Her gaze drops to my mouth. “And I like kissing you.”
“I like kissing you too.”
She moistens her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Part of me thinks to hell with it, nothing is forever, there’s only here and now, and we should make the most of it. But the problem is… I think it would be very easy to fall for you, Mitch Sullivan. And if that happens, I know I’m going to get hurt.”
We walk quietly.
“Does that make sense?” she asks eventually.
“Perfect sense.” I sigh. “I understand what you’re saying because I’ve already been through it. Don’t forget, I fell for you years ago, Vix.”
She drops her gaze to the ground.
“And you’re right, it’s agonizing to love someone and then lose them. I’m not saying that to make you feel bad. It is what it is. But the thing is, I don’t want to hurt you, or Millie. Until I’m sure what I’m going to do, it makes sense for us to keep our distance.” I stop walking and swallow. “But it’s incredibly hard when you keep kissing me.”
She lifts her gaze to me, biting her bottom lip. “I’m so sorry.”
“I didn’t mean it to be an accusation, just a fact. I like kissing you.” I cup her face and move closer. “I want more,” I whisper.
She moistens her lips again. “Me too.”
“We shouldn’t, though.”
“No, we shouldn’t.”
She looks up into my eyes, and hers are filled with longing.
“Stop it,” I say helplessly.
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re looking at me like…”
“Like?”
“Like you want to…”
She sighs. “I really, really do.”
