He shakes his head. “Is that why you threw up in my bathroom?” he asks, concern in his voice. “I didn’t know you were sick until I put you to bed.”

Embarrassment coloring my cheeks, I answer, “Yeah, it was all a little much. I’m sorry. I thought I cleaned up my mess.”

He gives my butt a spank. “You did, but I still smelled it. I’m the one that’s sorry. I’ve handled this all wrong. Let’s go sit, and I’ll try and fix things properly and not mess them up again.” He sits me down on the open end. “Crawl up. I’m right behind you.” I kick off my shoes and go all the way to the headboard. Fluffing the pillows, I sit back. I don’t think the grin on my face could get any bigger. He sits and unites his boots, then climbs up to me. His whole face lights up when he sees me grinning from ear to ear. “You really like it?” He asks almost shyly.

“No, I don’t like it.” His face falls. “I LOVE IT!” I shout, laughing.

“You,” he says and snags me by the waist and pulls me to his chest.

We’re both quiet for a few minutes. He breaks the silence, saying, “This morning, I was an asshole. I suspected you were inexperienced, but you told me you were a virgin, that I was your first kiss. I felt horrible for not knowing, but more for the way, I’ve behaved the past five years. I’m mad at myself for being weak, for not valuing what we would have more. When I saw you upset at my response, I just kept making it worse. Then, I ran. I was so caught up in my shit I didn’t even realize you had left the house.”

My head is lying on his chest, and he’s rubbing my back and neck. I can tell he’s being honest. I sigh. “I can’t tell you any of it’s okay, because honestly, it’s not. I don’t know how you could be with anyone else. I was a child, and I knew you were it for me. You understood even more than I did what we would have, and you gave it to someone else. That’s hard to deal with” —I blow out a big breath— “and this morning, this morning was humiliating.” He squeezes me, and I can feel his head nod. “I was so nervous I wouldn’t be good enough.” I pull away and look straight ahead out the windows, feeling the same disappointment and humiliation from earlier. “And then the way you acted... well, it made me feel bad. That’s all you need to know.”

Masen grabs my hand and rubs the inside of my wrist with his thumb. “I know I was an idiot, a selfish idiot. I have no excuses. I’m sorry I made you feel like shit, especially for something that makes me so happy, I’m honored that I’m the only one that will touch you. I’m sorry I didn’t apologize sooner. I shouldn’t have ever let you go into the bathroom,” he says sincerely.