Chapter 112 WHY SO DETERMINED?
MERRIELYNN.
Cormac was acting strange.
His weird behaviour started small... urging me to try out things I didn’t want to.
It began with the pool, again.
I stood at the edge, my feet barely touching the water. My stomach was in knots just from looking at it.
Neither of us had spoken a word about yesterdays incident.
Neither had I asked Cormac if he’d really said what I thought he did.
Part of me felt like I didn’t want us to have that conversation. If he truly said that to me, then it was because he didn’t know what the visions were like.
If he knew that last night I’d seen a younger version of him reaching for me, then he wouldn’t have even entertained the possibility.
Now, he seemed beyond determined to help me overcome this damn fear.
Cormac whooped, cheering me on as he stood waist-deep in the water. Again.
I shook my head at him and he just grinned, extending a hand toward me.
“Trust me,” he said, staring into my eyes.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I muttered, shaking my head. I wasn’t planning on embarrassing myself further on this trip after last night.
Why the hell was he so determined?
“Do you trust me, Merrielynn?” he asked.
I looked at him, noting that the playful smirk was gone.
Did I trust him?
My hand moved before my brain could stop it and I took Cormac’s outstretched hand.
He pulled me in gently, smiling as I tightened my hold around him.
“Not so bad,” he murmured.
We’d spent an hour in the pool, and not once did the visions come, or the urge to flee.
He distracted me, making it fun.
Last night was forgotten.
Almost.
The car came next.
Driving wasn’t as easy as one thought once there were no cheers, or adrenaline, or hot quarterback asking you to help him win a race.
I’d ran us off the road and wasn’t going to get behind a wheel in the nearest future.
Just the thought of sitting behind the wheel made my palms sweat.
But that wasn’t the problem.
It was the fact that Cormac noticed.
“Absolutely not,” I protested. “I’ve told you this before. I can’t drive.”
“But I’ll sit right there with you,” he tried to convince me. “Don’t worry. If you freak out, we’ll switch. Everyone should be a confident driver. And as long as I’m in, you’ll be fine. I’m not going to rush you, we’re not in a race. We’ll take our time, because this is important for you to do. Okay?”
He was a liar.
We were in a race.
A race against my heart... and how long I could fight these feelings I had for him.
Cormac got me into the driver’s seat.
“It’s just a car, Merrielynn,” he said softly from the passenger seat. “You’re in control.”
I exhaled shakily, and with Cormac guiding me, I pressed my foot on the gas. The car moved, slow at first and when I tried to pick up the speed, Cormac advised I’d rather maintain.
I drove for a while, feeling a smile creep up as the ease multiplied.
I smiled brightly at Cormac, muttering a “thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he smiled back. “Now keep your eyes on the road.
“Aye Sir,” I laughed.
Later, he drove us back, but not before insisting we switch seats halfway so I could try again.
By the time we reached the resort, my hands were steadier. “You did good,” he said, nudging me lightly.
“Thank you,” I replied, and it was my turn to grin like an idiot.
Little moments like these stacked up.
Every time he gave me encouraging words, my heart seemed to double in size. It was almost terrifying seeing how much space he was taking up in my chest.
And then came the surprise date.
Champagne on ice, a private yacht, delicious sushi and live band music.
It was everything.
By the time we got back to the resort after the date, I couldn’t stop smiling. Cormac parked the car in the quiet lot, and for a moment, neither of us moved.
Or said anything.
My heart was full, so I leaned over, and with it racing in my chest, I pressed my lips to his.
The kiss started slow, but when I pulled back just slightly, I couldn’t help but smile as I whispered, “We should go inside.”
The way his eyes darkened when I said it sent a tingle of anticipation down my spine.
He killed the ignition without breaking our gaze. “I think that sounds like a perfect idea.”