Page 28 of Stay With Me
“Not a lot, unless things changed in the last ten years,” she says as she heats her pizza.
“I also taught her how to playMario Kart. I’m hoping she gets good enough that she can kick Sam’s ass.”
“You boys and that game.” She smiles, shaking her head, and walks to the island to sit and eat. “What’s your schedule like for the rest of the week?”
“I work all afternoon shifts and have this weekend off, and I’m not on call. What about you?”
“I also work the rest of the week, and I told Ann that I would come in if we have someone checking in on Saturday morning since we got a request but not an official booking. I was thinking about going to the farmers’ market with Jess on Sunday. Do you think it’s too soon to take her there?”
“No, I think if she sticks to either Am’s area or with Farmer Joe and his booth and isn’t serving customers, she should be okay. It’s honestly only a matter of time before she gets sick, but her immune system needs to build.”
She just nods as she finishes off her pizza, and I know it’s time to stop beating around the bush and bring up my feelings.
When she gets up and walks to the sink, I follow her and lean against the counter. “So a little birdie told me you were unsure about my feelings for you.”
She keeps rinsing the already clean plate. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re my friend.”
“And if I said I want to be more than friends?”
“I would say I’ve never been more than friends with anyone.”
She turns the water off, and I take the plate from her and dry it with the towel hanging by the sink. Turning back to her, I place my hand on her shoulder so she faces me. “I know, which is why I’ve been going slow. I also had to work through my own stuff because my last relationship didn’t end on the best note. I was afraid my feelings might scare you. So, me not voicing my exact feelings for you is on me. I like you, Luna. I told you the other day that I enjoy having you and Jess here and that you weren’t ready for everything I wanted. I realize that saying that probably confused you more.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything.
“So here’s the plan. Saturday evening, we’re gonna have the gang over for dinner and some games or a movie or whatever. They’re all going to spend time with Jess, and that way, they can all get to know each other, so one or more of them can watch Jess while I take you out on our first date. How does that sound?”
“What if Jess isn’t comfortable with them?” she asks and bites her lip.
“That’s virtually impossible, but if she isn’t, then we’ll see if Joe and Ann can watch her for a couple hours.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” Using my thumb to pull her lip free, I don’t even fight it anymore. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
Her eyes go wide, and she nods.
I lower my head, and she brings her hands to my arms to steady herself as she rises to meet me. I stop myself from moving any further because I want her to make the first move to make sure I’m not pushing her to do anything she doesn’t want.
As soon as her lips meet mine, I fight to hold back the moan building in my chest. I slide my hand from her chin to the base of her neck, lightly pulling her hair to tilt her head the way I want.
Luna lets out a soft moan that is music to my ears.
Taking advantage, I softly lick her bottom lip, and as her tongue explores mine, I pull her closer. As my tongue rolls with hers, I know I have to end this before it goes further than I want it to tonight.
With one last kiss, I pull away and open my eyes. Seeing her with her eyes still closed, her lips swollen from my kisses, makes me want to beat my chest. As her eyes flutter open, her pupils are blown wide with a glassy look, and I bring my forehead to hers.
“More than friends, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, now it’s time for you to go to bed because we have to be up soon to take Jess to school.”
“Okay. If we’re more than friends, does that mean we can do that more often?”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Yeah, my Lunabella. We can do that more often.”
“Okay. I’m going to go get ready for bed now,” she says, but neither of us makes a move to leave first.
