Chapter 30

Hannah Things go wrong when we stroll into the guesthouse with blue paint, rollers, and other things we might need. I only set down the items before I tumble forward like a newborn calf, pushing a vase off a shelf while Tobias takes off his shoes in the hallway.

“No-no-no!” I try to reach it in time, but the thing crash to the floor and flies in ten million directions. But at least it didn’t look expensive. It was blue and plain and-

“Did you just break my two hundred thousand dollar vase?”

All blood drains from my face. “Fuck. Me.”

Tobias stops in his tracks, snorting. “I thought we weren’t doing that? You said you wanted to paint.”

I can’t respond to his bad joke. I’m going to be sick-I’m already fighting the urge to throw up all over Tobias’s floor, which also probably costs a fucking fortune.

Slowly, I turn his way. “Don’t even joke.”

The humor leaves him, and he sighs. “You’re right. That vase was very important to me-this is not a joking manner.”

“Shit…” I take a deep breath, weighing my options. “I could start working at the hotel again?” Tobias gives me a pitying look. “Even then, you wouldn’t be able to pay off the debt in time… it would take you forever.”

He is right, and I grimace. “I could take an extra job?” Tobias’s lips twitch in response to my words, and that’s when I realize something. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

Those eyes gleam with mischief. “What gave me away?”

I gasp and point accusingly at him. “You!” I shake my head with an evil smile spreading over my lips. “I’m going to kick your ass.”

“Hannah,” my name is a singsong taunt. “You’re one-hundred and twenty-six pounds soaking wet-I’m not afraid.”

“Oh, but you will be…” I open the lid to the dark blue color we bought, and Tobias laughs. He probably thinks I won’t do it, but I do-I dip a pencil and dot his grey sweatpants. “Ha- revenge!”

Tobias stares at me, and then he grins, and I scream before running away from him. It’s a silly game we play. We play pranks on each other and then run from the other. Whenever I run from Tobias, he catches me and throws me over his shoulder.

It’s no different this time, but after Tobias has tickled me and I’ve laughed and cried in response, we actually manage to get some painting done. I do the bottom half of the walls, while Tobias does the places close to the ceiling. I’m sitting on his shoulders at one point to paint one area. It’s all very romantic, and we make a good team. The walls are all dark blue a few hours later.

Taking a deep breath, I proudly puff up my chest with my hands resting on my waist. “All done!”

Tobias lounges on a chair, elbows resting over his knees, arms bare, and a smug smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Your clothes are all blue, and the color is even in your hair.” Even though he is making fun of me, my pulse leaps at his dazzling smile. My lips want to smile back, but I’m fighting it.

I can’t jump into Tobias’s arms any chance I get. We are a new item, and I need to take it easy and stop dreaming about his cock deep inside me, and damn, the sound he makes when he comes… shit.

“That doesn’t matter. We got the work done, and the guestroom is finally no longer white and boring!”

“True,” Tobias looks me up and down, hesitating briefly. “Say, do your parents have somewhere to live in the city? Before I married you, you lived in an apartment, right? The one with the sky-high rent.”

Wow, this line of questioning, and I’m already uneasy. I don’t like to talk about my parents, and I know where this conversation will lead. But I can’t avoid it, not if I wish to stay together with Tobias. No secrets.

“No, they don’t have anywhere to live. My mom is probably hoping to live at your place when she gets off that plane,” I look over at Tobias, gauging his reaction. He is calm, so I wet my lips and continue talking.

“You don’t have to say yes. My parents are… special.”

“Special?”

I silently nod and stare down at the floor as I brace myself. This is the part that always breaks my heart…

“My parents are divorced, but… they see each other now and then, and they are both… parasites.

Money is the only thing they care about, and both of them have expensive tastes. My mom loves jewelry, and my dad likes to play on horses and casinos. He also eats out a lot since. I did all the cooking when we lived together. I think I cooked my first meal in first grade, and my parents acted like it was normal.

My mom even used to get angry when she came home, and there wasn’t any food. I used to make her sandwiches. So yeah… my parents have never cared much for me, and I’ve worked since I was fourteen. Cash-in-hand, of course. My parents. wouldn’t pay for my meals…”

By now, my heart is pounding so hard that it’s getting harder to breathe. My chest feels too tight for my heart, and my hands are shaking, so I grip the zipper of the hoodie I’m wearing.

Tobias looks sympathetic, which only makes me hurt even more. If he says something soothing, I might cry, so instead, I let the words flow from my lips.

“I know my mom and dad might invite you for dinner. They seem to be back together… again. And while I love them, since they are my parents, you must understand that if they beg for money, I have nothing to do with it. Okay?”

“Understood,” Tobias simply sits on that chair, arms crossed in a way that does interesting. things to his biceps and forearms. He scans my face and attempts a smile.

I laugh. “What?”

“You always smiled while working at the hotel and were pleasant to every guest. If someone had asked me about your parents, I would have guessed you had a pretty good and ordinary life. But it seems I was wrong: the ones who have it rough are usually the nicest. Your ability to smile no matter the situation is admiring.”

I blush because this is a deep conversation. I’ve opened up a little, and now Tobias REALLY sees me.

It’s a little unnerving, and the mere thought of it is making me shy.

“Thank you…” I mumble.

“And I get that you don’t want me to pity you, but… in the future, I wish you to tell me these things and be open. It’s nice hearing about your past and what is happening inside your head.” A frown breaks over my face. “Easier said than done. Opening up isn’t easy when I’m afraid to get judged. I keep thinking it will somehow mess up things between us if I say too much.” “Really?” He sounds surprised.

“Yeah,” I grimace at how cringe my following sentence will sound, but I have to get it out there.

“Sometimes, I also fear that I’m being too clingy. That I’m overwhelming you. And you might change your mind about dating me if I act like I’m too much in love.”

I think about Tobias’s late nights and those days when he is super busy and hardly has time for me those days, I feel silly for having missed him so much. Especially when he sometimes doesn’t have time to return a hug and walks past me into the bathroom….

Tobias chuckles lightly. “You’re being silly. You don’t lose someone by loving them too much; you lose them by holding back.”

I look at him, stunned. “But sometimes it seems as if I’m annoying you by being too affectionate.”

“It’s true that I’m not as cuddly and happy-go-lucky as you are,” Tobias admits, shrugging.” But that doesn’t mean I don’t like it when you tackle-hug me to the floor when I come home from work.”

Goddamn. Why is Tobias so wonderful? Now my knees are weak, and I can barely contain myself when I see the heat and teasing light in his big, beautiful eyes. I want to kiss him so badly….

“You like it when I tackle-hug you?” I ask in a low tone, a bit suspicious of this since he always pretends I’m annoying when I floor him the second he walks through the door.

He smiles. “More than that: I love it.”

Oh my god.

I can no longer sit still. I squeal and rush toward Tobias as if I’m a fangirl finally getting recognition from her idol. His eyes widen with fear, but nothing can stop me from jumping into his arms!

“You’re so sweet!” I wrap my arms around his neck and then kiss his lips faster than he can react.

Tobias snorts when I place hard kisses against his lower lip.

“You’re so violent…” his words might be a complaint, but his lips are curled into an amused smile.

I expect him to push me away, but those arms go around my waist, and I’m hoisted into his lap. His tongue slides into my mouth and butterflies swarm inside my chest. Such a romantic man… how can I be so lucky?

Tobias really is the best partner ever.