Page 104 of Love is an Open Book
Ted’s holding the ridiculous balloons, and I’m sure even without seeing our linked hands, everyone here knows we’re a couple. But my worries about passing the point of no returnhave vanished. This feels like how it was meant to be all along. Gavin and me, in love.
We reach the group, and he says, “Thought I’d have more time to finish this before I showed you.”
“Didn’t stop him from guilting us into helping him work on it,” Morris says, and Riley elbows him. “What? I just don’t want him to take all the credit.”
“Mia helped out at the other lot,” she says. “During Community Give-back weekend we cleared out all the bushes.”
“Had the blisters to prove it,” I agree, raising my hand to show them, though it’s already healed.
Gavin squeezes my shoulder. “I still feel awful about your soft writer hands.”
“Soft?” I fake a scowl. “Let’s see you churn out ten thousand words in a day while on deadline. Calluses or not, these hands get the job done.”
“They do,” he agrees. And it might be my imagination, but I swear there’s a wicked twinkle in his eye. “Soft but mighty.” He drops his voice. “Not a bad thing to be vulnerable sometimes,” he says against my ear, and the barest caress of his lips sends tingles up my spine.
“Quit flirting and show her already,” Riley says, and this time, Morris nudges her.
“It’s all about timing,” he says. “Let the man have his moment.”
“On that note,” Joe says, “we’ll leave you to it.” He takes off his gloves and tucks them in his back pocket. Passing by, he pauses, voice pitched low so the others won’t hear. “Sera’s expecting an update on the happy couple after the premiere.”
I laugh, knowing he’s not talking about me and Gavin.
Ted follows, and I offer a quick smile of gratitude. He grins back. “Guess you found another ride to the airport?” I look up at Gavin to confirm and he dips his chin in a nod.
“She did. Thanks, man.” He and Ted are always civil, butthere’s a new undercurrent of respect in Gavin’s voice that warms my heart.
The others head out, too, Riley shushing Morris’s complaint about doing all that work only to miss the big reveal. When they’re gone, I heave a sigh of relief. I love Gavin and I don’t care who knows, but I’m grateful for this moment to ourselves.
“Close your eyes.” He turns so he’s standing directly in front of me. “Or better yet, can I borrow this?” He points at the scarf I’ve tied around my curls.
“What if I promise to not peek?”
“You cheat at every game.”
I don’t bother to deny it. “I’ll look a mess if I take it off now.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t have to, but you look beautiful, always.”
Cheeks warm, I unwind it and hand him the length of cloth.
“Not how I imagined this going,” he says, winding the scarf around my eyes. “But maybe even better.” He comes around behind me and the scarf pulls tighter, a light pressure against the back of my head. “This okay?” he asks, breath warm against my neck, and my whole body lights up with sensation.
I start to nod, then swallow. “Yes.”
His hand settles on my shoulder, fingertips sliding along the seam of my shirt. Lips press against my neck, and I melt back against him, steady, like he’s always been, but now he’s mine.
Another kiss, this one to the sensitive spot just behind my ear. “We’ll have to remember this,” he says, and I don’t know if he’s talking about the blindfold or the moment we reconciled, but I breathe out my answer.
“Yes.”
Then his presence at my back is gone and he takes my shaky hands in his. I keep my eyes pinched shut as promised but picture him in front of me, tall and sturdy, a joyful, cautious grin lighting up his blue eyes. Tugging gently, he leads me forward, step by small step. “Almost there,” he says. “Stay here.”
I wobble with uncertainty as he lets go. The creak of hinges reaches my ears, followed by the hiss of grass scraped by the metal gate, then he’s back.
“No peeking.”
“I’m not.” But impatience tinges my words, and he chuckles.
