-1Chapter 3
Bobby breath hitched in his throat. He swallowed hard, finally venturing to look at her. "Of course I wanted to. I've wanted to...for years... I just... I know you could never feel the same way about me..." He didn't deserve her. People who loved him got hurt. People he cared about didn't stay.
Alex sat her plate aside and moved closer to him. "Why can't I?" She turned his face so that she was looking into his eyes.
Bobby's eyes were wide and scattered. He shook his head. "Because... Because that will only get you hurt... You have to go...protect yourself. I've already hurt you enough." He jumped up. Practically shaking, he started to grab his things. He had to get away. He was panicking.
Alex was on her feet then. She moved to block his exit. "So your saying that you...are too afraid to be with me? That you don't think I'm worth the risk?"
Tears started dripping down his face. He shook his head. "I'm...saying I...love you. I love you so much it hurts, and now you know. I'm saying that everyone I love, everyone who cares about me ends up hurt somehow. I've already hurt you. I don't want to hurt you anymore.
She took his face in her hands. "Can't you see that...that I'm here? That I love you so much that my heart wasn't in my family because you…weren't with me? I love you, Bobby, and I need you...at work, at home, in my..." She placed his hand over her heart. "heart."
Bobby closed his eyes. Tears continued to move down his cheeks. "I... That's what I want too. You're my whole world. If I...lost you, I-I don't know what I'd do..." He was practically shaking.
Alex kissed him, long and slow. She refused to let him pull away. She held him to her waiting for him to respond.
With a soft groan, Bobby kissed her in return. Kissing her deeply, he pulled her to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he never wanted to let her go. In that moment, it was only the two of them. In that moment, it was perfect and everything else faded away.
Alex's hands were in his hair. She had never felt more alive, more wanted than in this moment. She pulled back breathless, meeting his eyes. "Please stay..."
Bobby took a shaky breath. He searched her eyes. She was offering him everything she had ever wanted. Her. Her undying love. "I...don't deserve you. I'm not nearly good enough, and after everything I've put you through the last two years... I don't know how you could ever...love me."
She took his face in her hands again. "Don't put yourself down, Bobby...please? for me?" She kissed him again. "I do...I love you. I'm never going...to leave you."
Bobby closed his eyes. Another tear slid down his cheek. "And I... And I trust you... I believe that. I believe you." He kissed her again.
She pulled him closer as the kiss ended. She laid her head on his chest and whispered, "We probably need to eat...and we can talk."
Bobby closed his eyes. He sighed softly. "Right... Yeah..." He closed his eyes. He pulled back. He hesitated a moment before taking her hand. He walked with her back to where the food was.
Alex settled on the floor, sitting Indian-style. She glanced up at him as she settled her plate in her lap again. She picked at her food. "You're a good kisser."
Bobby raised his eyebrows, glancing at her. He couldn't help but smile just a little. "I'm...glad you think so..." He had had a lot of practice.
She touched her lips at the memory. "Was that a total dumb thing to say?" She hadn't gone out with anyone that she really cared about in a long time.
Bobby looked at her, surprised. He shook his head. "No. Of course. I... I liked hearing that." He gave her a small smile.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. She could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks then. She pulled back quickly and said, "Did you have any trouble finding the cabin?"
Bobby shook his head. He swallowed hard. "No. No, it was easy to find..."
Alex took a bite of turkey and smiled. "I spent a lot of time up here as a kid. Almost burned it down when I was seven." She smiled at the memory.
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