Book 1 - Page 104 (1/2)
”What?” he asks, his voice quiet.
I flounder momentarily. No - I'll tell him. He's always complaining that I don't talk to him.
”I think that you felt trapped into bringing me to meet your parents.” My voice is soft and hesitant. ”If Elliot hadn't asked Kate, you'd never have asked me.” I can't see his face in the dark, but he tilts his head, gaping at me.
”Anastasia, I'm delighted that you've met my parents. Why are you so filled with self-doubt.i.t never ceases to amaze me. You're such a strong, self-contained young woman, but you have such negative thoughts about yourself. If I hadn't wanted you to meet them, you wouldn't be here. Is that how you were feeling the whole time you were there?”
Oh! He wanted me there - and it's a revelation. He doesn't seem uncomfortable answering me as he would if he were hiding the truth. He seems genuinely pleased that I'm here... a warm glow spreads slowly through my veins. He shakes his head and reaches for my hand. I glance nervously at Taylor.
”Don't worry about Taylor. Talk to me.”
I shrug.
”Yes. I thought that. And another thing, I only mentioned Georgia because Kate was talking about Barbados - I haven't made up my mind.”
”Do you want to go and see your mother?”
”Yes.”
He looks oddly at me, like he's having some internal struggle.
”Can I come with you?” he asks eventually.
What!?
”Erm... I don't think that's a good idea.”
”Why not?”
”I was hoping for a break from all this... intensity to try and think things through.”
He stares at me.
”I'm too intense?”
I burst out laughing.
”That's putting it mildly!”
In the light of the pa.s.sing street lamps, I see his lips quirk up.
”Are you laughing at me, Miss Steele?”
”I wouldn't dare, Mr. Grey,” I reply with mock seriousness.
”I think you dare, and I think you do laugh at me, frequently.”
”You are quite funny.”
”Funny?”
”Oh yes.”
”Funny peculiar or funny ha ha?”
”Oh... a lot of one and some of the other.”
”Which way round?”
”I'll leave you to figure that out.”