Falling for the Perfect 10

Chapter 7: Confessions

I jumped off the counter, my face redder than my hair.

"Shanna?" Tye said, spinning to follow me out of the kitchen. I searched for my bag and found it by the front door.

"I should go," I said, grabbing my bag and digging through it for my keys.

"Shanna, are you really going to run out like that?" Tye said as he came out of the kitchen, his voice cracking slightly.

"It seems like the best plan," I said, turning my back to him, my hands shaking.

"What's wrong?" Tye asked. I could hear the laughter in his voice. The sound broke me.

I dropped my bag, more like threw it to the floor and spun on Tye. "Is it funny to you?"

"What?" Tye asked, stepping back from me a few paces. I felt the tears spill over my eyes and wiped them away quickly. "What's wrong? He asked.

"What's wrong? You heard me Tye, you heard what I said. And rather than say anything you just stared at me!"

"You're mad because I didn't say anything back right away?" Tye asked.

"Tye, just let me leave," I begged, spotting my keys on my floor and crouching down and snatching them up, grabbing my bag and turning to grab the front door. The embarrassment and anxiety rose up in me, making my hands shake as I unlocked the front door. I pulled the door open but Tye's hand slammed the door shut with so much force it ripped the door handle from my grasp.

"What the fuck?" I said, turning to face him. Tye grabbed my face and kissed me, hard, slamming me into the wall right by his front door. The force and pain of it shocked me. His body pressed into mine and I groaned and his right hand dug into my hair, his left hand going around my back and lifting me, pinning me slightly above him to the wall.

His lips kept their pressure on mine, his hands rough as he pinned me there, kissing me like it was the only thing he knew how to do. I whimpered, feeling the anxiety battle my desire in my stomach. The feeling made me dizzy. I pushed Tye away from me and when my feet hit the floor I felt my legs shaking, as if they would give out. My brain flashed back to the kitchen, the look on his face, how he'd said nothing. My eyes stung as I wiped at the tears there.

I had promised myself to not say it first. To not get too invested too quickly. And here I was, in the same spot I always found myself in. Embarrassed and scared about what he'd say next.

Shock was written across Tye's face. His mouth opened and closed a few times. I stared at him, waiting, ignoring the tears on my cheeks. Something shifted on his face, in his eyes. "Shanna," he whispered, reaching for me.

I flinched away from him. Hurt registered in his eyes. "Shanna..." he said again, clearing his throat. He looked at me and I stared at him, trying to be defiant, trying to pretend I wasn't dying from embarrassment. The shaking of my body gave me away, though. I knew he could feel it.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He said.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner. I was fucking terrified, okay?"

I didn't understand what he was doing, what he meant. I could only stare at him. "Tye...what do you mean?"

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I wanted to show you that I could be more than just some fucking idiot from Canada who sat in developmental for so long his fiancé left him for being a loser. I didn't want to be the thirty-six year old guy who got lucky, snagged the woman of his dreams and, like a fucking teenager, said I love you on day two, okay? I didn't want to be the guy who followed you like a puppy dog anymore. I wanted to prove to you that I was the right guy for you. That I deserved you. So I kept my mouth shut."