LOUISIANA SKY (COMPLETE)

9. Lonely

DALLAS POV

Why am I here? Why am I here Why Am I here?

I kept repeating that to myself over and over as I waited in front of her door. When I got her text, I messaged her back and got into my truck like my body had a mind of its own. My brain was tired. I was tired. I've been going back and forth in my mind constantly for the past few days. I was confusing her and confusing myself. I must've told myself that his was the last time at least 30 times. And each and every time, she'd find a way to pull me in or I'd find a reason to see her again. It was a confusing and terrible game of tug of war.

I really didn't know what I wanted. This was the first time in a long time that I even considered if I wanted anything. After prison, I just automatically decided that I wasn't allowed that kind of luxury. But this girl was making it hard for me to stick to my own rules.

My racing thoughts come to a halt as I see her open the door. I noticed every time she'd look at me, my breath hitched like she blew me away each and every time. Her long hair was let down today and her eyes were tired from work, but still beautiful. I felt the urge to smile, but I held it back. Half of me prayed that she was going to tell me off, that she never wanted to see me again after the stunt I pulled last night. But the other half dreamed that she'd accept me for who I was no matter what.

"You gonna let me in or what?", I say. She motions me into the apartment and I walk in, never having been in here before. I do a quick once over of the living room. I notice a lot of pictures of her mom and her scattered around the room. Judging by the stacks of dvds on her tv stand, she watches a lot of movies. I want to ask her what her favorite movie is, but I don't. I plop myself down on the couch, resting my dirty boots onto the coffee table.

"Hey!", she shouts as she comes over and unsuccessfully tries to knock my feet off the table. "I eat on here!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her feeble attempt to push me off as I raise a questioning eyebrow at her. "You eat here, at the coffee table?", I motion across the table.

"I work late nights and I eat alone. I don't need to set myself up all fancy for dinner", she explains. A sad look washes over her face immediately after saying that. It almost looked like she was lonely.

How could a beautiful girl like that ever be lonely?

I saw men hit on her all the time at the bar and every time she'd dismiss them. Thinking about that made me realize that she asked me to come here. I felt sort of special for a moment and it scared me a little bit.

"You know, when I'm not going out on dates and stuff", she tries to save herself. I chuckle again. She was too funny. I guess me laughing at her seemed to make her insecure and she had a look on her face like she was second guessing me bringing me here.

"Forget it", she says quickly. "This was a mistake".

She looks like she's about to open the door back up to let me out, but I go into panic mode and quickly grab her hand before she could do so without thinking. I'd just gotten here and seeing her... I didn't want to leave just yet. Not yet.

I can feel my thumb caress the top of her hand involuntarily. She doesn't pull away, but she looks confused by my actions. I quickly pull my hand away, afraid of the butterflies in my stomach.