I Kissed A Ghoul by Kat Baxter
Chapter 9
Ainsley
It’s past seven by the time I finally get home. I’ve ignored approximately seven hundred calls from my mother and several calls and texts from Reid. I finally turned the damn thing off about an hour ago. Now, I’ve showered and put on my comfy clothes and I’m just waiting for my pizza to arrive.
When the doorbell rings, I grab my wallet to pull a few extra bills to tip, but there’s no pizza guy on my doorstep. Instead, I find Reid.
He looks terrible. Hair sticking up every which way, the scruff on his face is heavy, and he looks exhausted.
“Where the fuck have you been?” He pulls me into a tight embrace. “You scared the hell out of me, Peach. I’ve called every hospital and pop-up emergency room.” He pulls back, holding me out at arm’s length. “Are you okay?”
I pull away from him. “I’m fine. I just didn’t answer my phone today. Doesn’t mean I was in an accident.”
He comes inside and closes the door behind him.
“Why do you sound pissed?” he asks, his voice lined with caution.
Shit. I didn’t mean to sound pissed. I shouldn’t be pissed. I knew what I was getting into last night. It’s not Reid’s fault I want more. It’s not Reid’s fault my stupid heart is bruised and battered from how badly it wants more than a one-off with him.
I blow out a breath and try to sound not pissed as I ask, “Why are you here, Reid?”
Then the doorbell rings again and I push past him to go take care of the pizza guy. Reid follows me back to the kitchen where I pour myself a glass of wine, then lean against the cabinet.
“What do you mean what am I doing here? Ainsley, what is going on?”
All my efforts to sound not pissed fly out the window, as he crowds my space and tucks my hair behind my ear.
“I don’t know, you tell me?” I take a step back, trying to stay out of arm’s reach. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m the one who woke up alone in a hotel room this morning.”
“I sent you breakfast.”
“Which was tasty, but did little in explaining things to me.”
He comes towards me and puts his hands on my hips, locking me in place. “I went to Corpus. To see Rhett.”
“Because of course that’s what you’re thinking about when you wake up naked next to me. My brother.”
“Exactly.”
“Wow.” I try to push him off, but he won’t move.
“Nope. You’re going to listen. Did you know that six years ago I went to Rhett and told him I had feelings for you and he told me I wasn’t good enough for you?”
I open my mouth to answer, then frown. “No, I did not know that.”
“Well, he wasn’t wrong. I was immature and unfocused. So I got my head on straight and this morning I went back to him. I told him that I’m in love with you and I’m going to marry you and I don’t give a shit what he thinks about it, but I wanted him to know.”
My skin heats and I’m sure I’m blushing. “You’re in love with me?”
“Of course I am, Peach. Can’t you feel it when I look at you? When I touch you?”
I shake my head.
“Then I’ve got my work cut out for me.” He leans in and nuzzles my neck.
“I thought you’d one-night-standed me,” I say.
“Ah fuck, Ainsley. No, of course not. I thought I made it clear last night how I felt.”
I take another step back. Again. Because his touch makes it so hard for me to think. And I need to think. I can’t do this over and over. I need to know exactly where he is.
“You made it clear you wanted me. You made it clear you desired me, but I thought …” It’s hard to admit out loud, but I force myself to just blurt it. “I thought maybe you just wanted a fuck buddy.”
His eyebrows pinch together as a glower settles over his face. “That’s what you thought?”
He looks almost ... almost angry. And Reid is never angry. Like, ever.
I just nod, because I’m too surprised to speak.
“You thought I only wanted a one-night stand? A fuck buddy? And you went along with that?”
“Well, you didn’t say anything about feelings.”
“Because I thought you knew how I felt about you.”
“Well, I didn’t,” I snap. “And frankly, I’m very confused here. Why do you sound mad? Why are you acting like you’re mad at me?”
“Because you deserve more than a one night stand. You deserve more than being someone’s fuck buddy. And frankly, I’m a little pissed that I just told you I love you and want to marry you and you haven’t said anything in return.” His uncharacteristic glower fades to confusion. “Do you not …” He pauses, clears his throat, and plows a hand through his hair. “Do you not feel the same thing?”
“You didn’t use the l-word last night.” I don’t mean to say it like an accusation, but that’s how it sounds when I say it out loud. I sound like I’m begging. I sound like I spent the day wallowing in misery, worried I’d lost my best friend and gotten my heart broken all in one fell swoop.
He must hear my abject misery in my voice, because his expression softens. “Love? I didn’t tell you I love you?”
“No, you did not. I would have remembered that.”
He grabs my face and those green, green eyes meet mine. “Ainsley Marie Montgomery, I am head-over-ass in love with you. If I didn’t say it last night, it’s because I thought you knew. You’re my best friend. You’re the only woman I want. I want to marry you and make babies with you and take ridiculous Christmas card pictures with you in matching pajamas and I want to always dress up together for Halloween. I want all of that stuff with you.”
I’m pretty sure my heart has melted into a pile of goo. “I love you, too.”
He smiles and it’s so big and so pure that it’s like an electric charge to my entire body. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Reid.”
He gives me a kiss, a sweet, romantic one. Followed by a heated, passionate one.
I pull back. “One question,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“Was that your official proposal?”
“No, Peach. I’ll plan something perfect for you and get you a little shiny bauble to show off to all your friends.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“So you keep telling me.”
“It’s true though.”
“Ridiculously in love with you. That is true.”
“Take me to bed, Reid.”
His stomach growls in response.
I laugh. “On second thought, let’s have some pizza first. Then the bed.”
Half an hour later, we’re full and snuggled on the couch, my feet in his lap. And I’m feeling about as happy as I’ve ever imagined.
