Page 97 of Yours, Unexpectedly

“Where are we going?” she asks when we get in the car, as if the thought just occurred to her.

“Back to yours. I have something for you.”

Her teeth sink into her lower lip, biting back a grin as she shakes her head.

“No? Is that not okay?”

“It is! I just… I can’t believe you’re here. I mean, I wanted you to be here but—I was definitely not expecting that.”

“That’s kind of the point of a grand gesture,” I tease.

“Yeah, but you hi-jacked my grand gesture! I was trying to grand gesture you and you swooped in and outdid me!”

Reaching over, I lace her fingers with mine. And then, because I can’t control myself, I lean over the console and place six kisses across her collar bone. I feel her sigh reverberate through my bones before she pushes me off with a rushed, “Wait!”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on taking you in the car. Though…”

She scoffs. “That sounds extremely uncomfortable!” I watch as her face shifts into something serious. “I want to talk. Can we talk first?”

“Of course, Baby Bardot.”

Bex opens the apartment door and I hear her gasp. I guess that means Luci and Riz have worked their magic. I step in and—“Damn.”

Bex’s gaze swings toward me. “You didn’t do this?”

“Well, it definitely was my idea, but your best friends obviously love you because they went above and beyond on this one.” I don’t want to give them all the credit, but I’ll give them a lot of it.

The apartment looks amazing. I had them set up a special Margarita Monday for the two of us, even though it’s the middle of the day. I figured they’d order the take-out I requested and leave a few canned margaritas in the fridge for Bex. Instead, the kitchen table is covered in a table cloth, actual nice plates are set out, and several vases of flowers are scattered about. There’s a piece of paper propped up in a trifold with the words, food is staying warm in the oven, drinks are in the fridge, enjoy lovebirds! scribbled on it.

Sure enough, the food is waiting in glass serving containers in the oven, and there are pitchers of clearly marked alcoholic and non-alcoholic margaritas in the fridge, which is such a thoughtful gesture that I almost tear up.

I plate food for both of us and return to the table to find a nervous Bex. Setting the plates down, my gaze meets hers, ready for whatever she’s willing to give.

“We have a lot of catching up to do…” she starts.

“I can agree with that. I’ve missed the hell out of you these past few weeks.”

“I couldn’t tell by your texts,” she smirks.

“They might have been a little aggressive,” I snort. “But I stand by everything I said.”

“I know you do,” she whispers. “And I am really sorry I pushed you away, for what it’s worth.”

“It’s worth everything. I get it. I mean, I don’t understand everything that happened, but I am glad you’re here now. That we are talking about this now.”

A small smile curves her lips. “I got the job.”

It takes me a second to figure out what she’s talking about but then it clicks. “Oh shit! The job with SchoolsFirst? That’s amazing! That means… that means you’ll be in the city next year?” I can hear the hope seeping into my voice.

Bex nods before taking a bite off of her plate. She contemplates her next words as she’s chewing.

“Your mom is actually the one who convinced me to take it.”

My mom?

“As in… Alice?”

“Do you have another mom?” she quips.

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