1Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires, #1)(83)

I’m the one who drove her into the arms of another man, who ended up breaking her heart.

And I’m the one who took ten years to apologize, solely because I was a coward who didn’t want to face my fears, instead choosing to let my insecurities about my worth dictate my actions.

“Despite being hurt by all the things you said, I should have put my feelings aside and stepped up to be the bigger person. Because even though you pushed me away, I was the one who made a conscious choice to let it stay that way.”

My lungs ache. “None of this was your fault.”

“The same can be said about you.”

“Let’s agree to put the past behind us?”

“Deal.”

I wrap my arm around her before steering us toward the kitchen. She sits in my usual corner seat on the island while I fill two glasses with water.

“What did you get?” She reaches for the nondescript paper bag.

“Sushi.”

“Yes!” She grabs the top container, only for me to swap it for the other one.

“What?”

“That one is mine.”

Her brows furrow.

“It has cream cheese.”

The cute way her nose scrunches has me smiling to myself.

She rips the lid off the container. “Shrimp tempura?”

“Here.” I pass her a large container filled with spicy mayo.

“You’re annoyingly perfect at predicting my every move.”

I toss her a pair of chopsticks, and she rips them apart before plucking her first sushi roll off the tray.

I don’t dig into my food right away, which earns me another speculative glance.

“Are you going to eat?” She points at my tray.

“Yeah.”

“Well, get to it.” She clicks her chopsticks together a few times.

“What’s the rush?”

“Someone promised me dessert.”

My heart pauses for a second before returning to its normal pace.

“I’m enjoying the moment,” I confess.

Dahlia processes my words with a slow blink. “It’s only dinner.”

I pop the lid off my takeout container to give myself something to do. “I know.”

“We can do this again tomorrow if you want.” A faint pink blush creeps up the collar of her shirt.

“Would you want that?”

“Depends on how tonight goes.” She winks.

I know her words are meant as a tease, but they seem to widen the gap in my chest until the ache becomes unbearable.

Her forehead creases from her frown. “What’s that look for?”

“Huh?”

Whatever expression she copies makes me feel ten times more pathetic.

“Nothing.” I pop a sushi roll into my mouth to stop myself from revealing anything else.

“You seem sad.”

“I’m…”

“Lonely?” she offers.

I nearly break one of the wooden chopsticks because of how hard my fist clenches.

The worst kind of expression flashes across her face.

Pity.

“For how long?” she asks.

Too long.

“Not going to lie, I expected you to be married with a kid by now.”

“Married, yes. A kid? Not so much.”

“You don’t want children? For real?” Her throat visibly tightens from how hard she swallows.

“Not really.”

She only frowns harder. “Since when?”

“Since my mom returned from the hospital without my baby sister.”

She wraps her hand around my bicep and gives it a comforting squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

I halfheartedly shrug. “It’s in the past.”

She spares me a look. “We’re quite the pair, you and I.”

“Tell me about it.”

Her hand drops. “You know, a wise man once told me there are plenty of ways to have a child.”

“Is that right?”

“Yup.”

“I think I’ll start with finding a wife first and see where life takes me.”

“Right.” Her grip on the chopsticks tightens.

Cute.

Warmth spreads through my body. “Maybe when you head back to San Francisco, I’ll reconsider my mom’s matchmaking services.”

“I sucked your dick less than an hour ago, and you’re already talking about going on dates with other women?”

“Does that bother you?”

Her nose scrunches. “Ugh. You’re such an asshole.”

“And you’re jealous.”

“No, I’m not.”

“It’s nice to be on the receiving end of it for a change.” I uncurl her fingers, releasing the chopsticks from her punishing hold.

Her gaze narrows. “You said all that on purpose.”

“I did.”

“Next time you go down on me, I plan on suffocating you to death.”

I drag her hand to my lips and kiss it. “I can’t think of a better way to go.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE


Dahlia


“So, do I get to see your bedroom now?” I toss our empty containers in the hidden trash can beside the sink.