Page 65 of Falling for You

Her question makes me raise my eyes from my menu, laying it down flat.

“Are we at the sharing food stage of our relationship?”

“Are we in a relationship?” she counters.

“Yes,” I reply immediately. “Exclusively, just in case you wondered.”

“Do I get a say in that?” she asks, eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Nope.” I lean back in my chair, the picture of relaxed. But the way my heart’s about to pound right out of my chest says otherwise.

“Awfully alpha of you.” Her position is opposite mine. Leaning an elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand. She smiles, adorable and sweet.

“I have no idea what that means.”

“Oh come on!” she cries. “You know what alpha means.”

“Like a dog?”

She’s shaking her head, feigning frustration by my stupidity. Our server interrupts, asks if we’re ready to place our order. I point to Chloe and say, “She’s the boss.”

“Really? I like the sound of that.” She rattles off a couple different burgers and sides as well as two milkshakes. “That work?”

Without looking away, I nod at her. She could have ordered peanut butter and jelly on the burger and I wouldn’t have argued. I’m just thrilled to be here with her.

Alone again, I ask, “Alpha?”

“Like when the guy is dominant or possessive. At least, that’s what I get out of it when I read.”

“What do you like to read?”

“Romance.”

“Yeah? Does that mean that I’m going to have to live up to some crazy high expectations?”

“Possibly,” she admits on a laugh, reaching out, lifting her water to her lips. She takes a sip. “I mean, it’s not like authors typically write men who make readers cringe, but some of them are a bit over the top and unrealistic. Most, though, just…”

“Make you horny when you read?” I guess. I’ve heard enough from Penny when she talks about the books she reads with Olivia to know that they fall into that category often after reading.

“Basically,” she fesses up with a smile and giggle.

“Ha! I can live with that.”

While waiting for our meal, we dive into conversation. As usual, there’s no awkwardness, nothing off limits.

Even when I admitmy numberto her, feeling sick to my stomach as I do so, she doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t look at me with disgust when she learns the high number of women I’ve been with. She understands why I leaned in the direction I did when it came to relationships and women.

“It’s not that I love hearing it, obviously, but I’d rather you be honest than lie.”

“I told you I’d never lie to you.”

“And I appreciate that more than you could ever know.”

Once our food is delivered, we dive in. Cutting both burgers in half and using our hands to eat, sharing fries and onion rings sipping on milkshakes from the same straw. She dips her fries into some ranch dressing she requested and demands I try it, which is delicious and I know I’ll never be able to eat French fries again without dipping them in ranch.

It’s easily the best meal I’ve had in years, and not just because of the company I’m sharing it with. I love that Chloe suggested a place we could chill out and be ourselves. Our plates are cleared and milkshake glasses empty, stomachs full. She pushes hers out and I almost fall out of my seat laughing at how she can make herself look pregnant.

“It’s my food baby,” she croons, rubbing her stomach lovingly.

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