You know he wouldn’t. He called you perfect just as you are.
Christie took a breath and stepped into the room.
He stood over by her bookcase, running his fingers over the broken spines of her books, frowning. “You know, you should really take better care…” He turned around, his voice faltering as he stared at her. Then he said nothing at all.
Christie gave him a minute then put her hands on her hips and stuck her chin in the air. “Okay, so you don’t like it. That’s fine, I—”
“Christie.” His deep voice stopped her in her tracks. “I don’t like it. I love it.”
Warmth spread inside her, like a happy cat uncurling in the sun. “Y-you love it?”
“Yes.” Joseph’s blue eyes burned into hers. “I think you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The warmth began to spread, down her arms, down her legs, filling her up like the sun shining in a dark room. She blinked, her throat aching all of a sudden. “Thanks, Joseph,” she said thickly. “That means…a lot.” Then, to lighten the atmosphere. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.”
But he didn’t smile. “I’m not, Christie. I’m flawed, just like all the rest. Remember that.”
There was a shadow on his face, in his eyes. A shadow she’d once glimpsed the day he’d helped her rebuild her computer. She’d let it go then, all uncertain of herself and him. Now though, she was his girlfriend, wasn’t she? He could tell her stuff the way she told him stuff.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked hesitantly. “Because you can tell me. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”
Joseph shook his head, turning away. “Yeah, I know. But I’m fine. Shall we go?”
But he wasn’t fine, any fool could see that. He just didn’t want to tell her about it.
Pain took up residence inside her heart, though she tried to ignore it.
If he didn’t want to talk then he didn’t. They weren’t at the sharing-life-stories stage and maybe he wasn’t a big sharer anyway. Men weren’t as a rule, were they?
“Okay,” she said, trying to shake off the ache. “But I don’t have any shoes to match.”
He grinned. “Keep the Docs. Like I said, they weren’t the problem.”
…
Joseph kept snatching glances at Christie as they drove to her parents’ house in Remuera. She sat beside him in the car, playing with his very expensive car stereo, the green silk dress she wore leaving her legs bare to the thigh as well as exposing one white shoulder. She looked long-legged, slender, and delicate, her hair up in a messy bun. A pale, green-eyed fairy. And the purple velvet Docs only made her look even more interesting in his opinion.
She tapped a few buttons on the stereo, twiddled with the knobs, her face screwed up in concentration. Then she grinned. “Man, this head-unit is so cool. Where’s the preamp?”
Her pleasure was so endearing it made him want to smile. “It’s in the dash.”
Music played as she searched some of the radio stations, a fascinated grin playing across her face. “Oh wow, the sound is awesome. Should have brought my iPod.”
“I’ve got one in the glove box if you want.” He couldn’t resist a tease. “But there won’t be any Death’s Brotherhood on it.”
“Death’s Brethren,” she corrected. “That’s okay. I don’t have to have music now.”
He glanced over at her again, her hands now resting in her lap. “Where did you find the dress?”
“Oh, I bought it months ago and forgot I had it.” One shoulder lifted. “I’ve never actually worn it before.”
“Why not? You look fantastic.”
Color stained her cheeks, her teeth biting her lip. God, she was beautiful.
He didn’t regret offering to be her boyfriend the day she’d received that invite, he really didn’t. Even though he knew it was wrong. Even though he knew he couldn’t sustain the type of relationship Christie needed. But part of him wanted to help her show up her awful family. And another part, a larger part, just wanted her.
Yeah, so he was a selfish bastard. He liked being with her. Liked sitting with her and talking about circuits, and being killed for the fifty millionth time by ten-year-olds in online games. Liked watching her negotiate her first jump on the trails. Liked having her in his bed every night.
And he’d be damned if he gave that up just yet.
“Why didn’t I wear it before?” She looked down at her hands. “It’s silly, so don’t laugh, but every time I dress up, all I can hear is my mother criticizing my choice and telling me I look ridiculous. It gets boring.”