#Chapter 143: Not Like That

Oh my God, he absolutely does think the worst. My own face heats up, practically on fire. I can’t believe I walked right into this conversation. “I, uh… I didn’t mean it like that,” I say quickly. “I’m not offended by any means,” Hugo says, clearly not believing me. It’s my fault. I’m so embarrassed, I know I’m not coming off very convincingly. “I just think that it’s too soon.” “Really,” I assure him. “I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I wasn’t asking for…” I inhale a shaky breath. I wanted to avoid getting into the specific details of my loneliness, but that embarrassment seems miniscule compared to this misunderstanding. “It’s quiet in the house without my daughters. And after today… I wasn’t inviting you in for anything intimate, I swear. I just wasn’t ready to be alone yet.” Hugo takes in my words. Nodding once, he glances sideways and me and then quickly away. “Even so… I would worry that scenario, even if unintentional, might progress to other things. I believe it b