Head Over Feels

Oh, fuck. Do I let this go on?

“Well, yeah. Like—”

“I don’t want to hear anymore tonight.” Tealey holds her hands up in front of her, putting an end to this torture . . . for both of us. “I was tired before, but now I have a headache.”

Is that for Marlow or me?

“Okay, well, good night, Teals.”

“Night.” The door is shut, but I don’t see or hear any movement. When the lock catches, Tealey says, “You can come out now.”

I’m careful, each step tentative as I walk into the bedroom. I’m not greeted with a smile, and there’s no relief found in her expression. Her arms are crossed, and she asks, “You’re dating Marlow?”

That I’m having to address this at all as if I’ve done something wrong, I reply, “I’m not dating Marlow. Not officially.” I reach for her, but she takes a step back. “Not like how I want to date you.”

Her eyes go wide, her head thrown back from a scoff. “Me? We’re not even dating, and now you’re telling me you’re with her, but you want to be with me?”

Tangled webs are really not my thing. Ever.

Most of all, I don’t want to lose Tealey because of this absurd charade.

“Will you listen to me with an open mind?”

“It will be a struggle, but I’ll try.”

She moves to sit at the head of the bed and crosses her legs. She appears calm, willing to hear me out. Calm is good. Listening is great.

Keeping my voice down, I say, “I went along with his assumption to ease tension between her and her dad. I guess he assumed we were together because none of you were there, like usual.” I shrug. “It’s weird that he’d think that because nothing was going on and still isn’t.” Distracted by those sexy lips of hers, my thoughts muddle.

“Rad?” Two snaps.

“Huh?”

“You were saying that nothing is going on and . . .?”

I rack my brain as to what we were talking about, and the words miraculously reappear. “I’m dating Marlow so she gets the apartment and I make partner at the firm.”

“So you are dat—”

I hold my hand up this time. “I’m not really dating her. He thinks we’re dating. Actually, he thinks we’re getting married.”

“What? You’re engaged now?” She huffs and gets out of bed while shaking her head. “This is too much, Rad. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I think it’s best if you leave. We can discuss this tomorrow.”

I stay right where I am. “No, I want to talk about it now because you’re making assumptions—”

“Me?” She points at herself in disbelief. “I’m only going off what the two of you have told me. Apparently, you’re tangled up in some weird love affair in a scheme to make money and get property. Is that the gist of it?”

Stepping forward, I take hold of her hands. She reluctantly lets me. “Not at all. We agreed to pretend only in front of him through his divorce and him giving her the property deed.” Holding her hands to my chest as if she’ll slip away if I don’t, I say, “You can think I’m a terrible person for making the best out of a bad situation, or trust that the thing with Marlow is nothing more than what we’ve said. I’m not interested in being with her. She’s not interested in me.”

“Rad . . .” Her eyes turn down, and her head follows.

“I’m right here, Tealey. Right here with you. You’re all I want.” She looks up, so I beg, “Please believe me.” When I have her full attention, I kiss her cheek and whisper, “I’ve waited a lifetime to be with you.”

Any anger that she was harboring in her eyes disappears. I don’t get one of her beautiful smiles, but her fingers fold around my hand. “I really don’t know what kind of deal you two have made, but the truth always comes out, so I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt. Tomorrow, I want the full story with both of you sitting there. But tonight . . .”

“Anything, Tealey.” I brush her hair behind her ear, still holding her hand to me.

“I just want it to go back to how it was before Marlow said anything.” Taking her hand from mine, she then stretches her arms around me. “I can’t say when I started having feelings for you, but I can’t stop them either. All I can ask is that you please don’t hurt me.”

Engulfing her in my arms, I kiss the top of her head. “I won’t.”

She looks up, her chin on my chest. “I don’t need a rushed response. I want you to think about it.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I pull her closer until she’s standing between my legs. “I don’t need time to figure it out. I already know the answer. You’re giving me a chance, and I won’t blow it. I promise not to hurt you, Tealey.”