Page 160 of Push

“Maaaybe. At least I’ll have a captive audience for all my awesome jokes now.”

“Toby,”she warned.

I grinned at her. I couldn’t resist. “What’s the best time to schedule a dentist appointment?”

Gwen groaned.

“Tooth hurty.” I roared with laughter. “Get it? Two thirty. Tooth hurty. Yeah?” I tickled her side until she couldn’t help but bubble with a laugh. I snuggled her close and pecked kisses up her neck. “I love it when you laugh, my sweet Gwendolyn.”

Playfully, she shoved me away, but the smile she was giving was all good.Sexygood.

“Wait…” Her smile faded. “Interview?” After kissing Noah’s cheek, she plopped him next to the tub of fruit. It didn’t take long before he was gumming on a strawberry chunk. “Did you take Noah?”

“Yup. NoBo’s my wingman. If work asks me to stop by on short notice, they need to know I’ve got a family. I’m setting expectations from the get-go.”

“They weren’t bothered?”

“Nope. I’m pretty sure his charms got me the job. They want me to start next Wednesday. Only three days a week, with occasional on-call and weekend work. Nothing like the hours I was pulling at the clinic. But you and Noah come first. You know that, right?”

“I…know…” she replied hesitantly.

“If you don’t want me to—”

“I’d never stand in the way of your career.”

“I know, but I want to make a decision that works for both of us.”

“I want you to be happy.”

“And I wantyouto be happy.” I bumped my shoulder against hers. “What’s worrying you?”

She shrugged. “Who, um…will you be working with?” She plucked at the grass poking up beside the picnic blanket. “Your assistant?”

My heart squeezed tighter than Noah’s fist around his strawberry. Vulnerability poured out of Gwen even though she tried to hide it. That was another side of her onlyI saw. She was scared work would be like last time. That I was going to mess up. Messaround.

“Gwen.” I pulled her as close as possible without tugging her into my lap. “Listen? Real good, okay?”

“O-okay…”

“It’s like…”

I cocked my head. Whatwasit like? That I was useless without her? If I couldn’t see her again, why bother living? I’d had more than a few rough nights in the apartment without her. Dark thoughts. Rock-bottom moments. I’d never been so low.

“Want some straight talk about how I feel about you?” I asked. “No jokes, only truth.”

She nodded slowly, teeth digging into her bottom lip, uncertain.

“I really fucking love you, Gwen. Like crazy town love you. You’re smart and gorgeous and fierce. You’ve got this tough shell on the outside that’s super hard to crack, but when I get in there, it’s so gooey and amazing, and I wanna float around with you forever. And I’m tired of not telling you stuff like that. I love you.”

“That’s…” She bit down on her lip again.

Too much? Too… “Weird?” I dropped my chin and flexed my palm over the soft spot I’d found on her thigh—I’d have one last touch if she ran off. It was hard to admit those kinds of feelings out loud.

Gwen shook her head. “I like it when you’re honest.”

“Wanna hear some more honesty?”

She nodded.

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