The Love Series Complete Box Set by Melissa Collins

me with homework and whatever wacky science project I had to do. He was funny, too. Not like cheesy funny, though—I guess I get a lot of my sense of humor from him.” Reid shoots me a wry look, but I ignore it and go on, “He just looked at life in a different way from most people. A lighter, easier way that just made him seem carefree most of the time, but he was serious, too. And oh, my God did he love my mom. She was beautiful.”
    “Well, one look at you, and I can only imagine,” he interrupts, and kisses my forehead again.
    “Thank you, but no, she was gorgeous. I can’t remember too many specifics, but I know we have the same eyes. She was just flawless, but what little girl doesn’t think her mom is perfect and that her dad is some kind of super-hero? I’m sure in reality they were far from it, but in my memories they were simply amazing together. I don’t ever remember them fighting. They would dance—like out of nowhere with no music. Dad would just swoop in behind her and twirl her around, and I thought it was the most romantic thing ever. They looked at each other with such love and tenderness. I’ll always remember that about them. So yeah, I guess that’s why I put those walls up. It’s easier to keep people away than it is to have them look at you like that and then be ripped away from you.”
    We lie in each other’s arms for what feels like an eternity. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, having shared about my parents. I won’t lie; it hurts to think about them, but the pain is a dull ache instead of the excruciating knife to the heart it usually is. Reid is tracing lazy circles on my back, and I feel sleep claiming me again.
    To keep myself from nodding off completely, I say, “I should get going. I don’t want to keep you all day. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than listen to me gab about my dead parents all day. Plus, I’m still pretty groggy from last night, so I think I’m just going to crash and sleep the day away.” I start to get up, and he pulls me back to his chest.
    “How about this instead? I get you some sweats and a T-shirt. You can shower if you want, and while you do, I’ll make you something to eat, and then we can relax all day if you want. I like having you here. If you want, I mean. I can drive you home if you want. It’s up to you, sweetheart. Just promise me one thing?”
    His words floor me. I’ll give him anything when he’s being this heartfelt.
    “Of course, Reid.”
    “Well, two things, actually.” He quirks his eyes up playfully as he adds more to his initial request.
    I pretend to be debating his request, but he sees through it. I love when he’s all playful and fun like this; it’s so easy and natural. So of course I nod that I’ll agree to his promises.
    He lays his cards on the table.
    “One—go out on one date with me. You said you’ve never been on a real date, and I would be honored if you’d let me be your first.”
    “And the second thing?”
    He laughs as he realizes I’m not going to answer his first question without hearing the second.
    “Well, I guess the second thing is more for both of us. We’ll both promise to not put up so many walls. I’m not saying that what’s already there needs to come down right now, but just that we should both be open to the possibility that this thing—” He gestures his hands between the two of us, “—might actually be good.”
    Again, I’m floored by his honesty. It’s as if he is reading my mind about letting him in. I’ve wanted to since I met him, but I guess he just took a little longer in coming around. He says he’s got his own walls, too, and I want to push a little to get him to open up, but I don’t have the energy, and I don’t want to change how it feels right now.
    Another thing to file away for later.
    “I think I can agree to those terms. So you really want to take me out on a date? You don’t have to, you know? If it’s out of