Page 90 of Before You
“No, it does not mean the same thing.”
Scoffing, I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure it means the same thing, JJ.”
“I would never ask you to stop smiling because it’s my favorite part of you. I love watching you smile, but I have to focuson the road,” JJ says, but his explanation only makes my smile wider. “Marley.” He groans, and despite the fact he’s making no sense right now, I turn away to look out the window again.
“Your logic is flawed, but I’d also prefer if you didn’t crash the car so I’ll go with it,” I say, laughing again.
JJ pulls off into a small parking lot for beach access a few minutes later, and I spot Asher’s car next to us.
“We’re going to the beach?” I ask, turning to look at him and the intensity of his emerald gaze steals all the oxygen from my lungs. I’ll never have to doubt the way JJ feels about me because I don’t believe anyone could fake the tender expression on his face.
“Is that okay?”
“JJ, I don’t care where we are because it only matters to me I get to be with you.”
He smiles, drawing my attention to his mouth, and I can’t help myself as I lean forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips. JJ’s quick to pull me back for a second kiss, his eyes scanning over my face afterward. “I’m sorry I wouldn’t tell you where we were going, but I brought a hoodie for you in case you didn’t have a jacket. Can you wait for me to get your door?” JJ asks, unbuckling his seatbelt after turning off the engine.
I nod, knowing even if I had brought one, I’d still choose to wear JJ’s hoodie instead.
JJ opens my door, but my jaw drops when he kneels, and I think my brain momentarily explodes. His eyebrows knit in confusion as he looks up at me, before laughter spills from him. “Marley, I’m not proposing. I’m just going to take your sandals off so you don’t get them all sandy,” he says, a goofy smile transforming his face.
My entire body burns from the mortification immediately following his clarification because, of course, he isn’t proposing. “Definitely makes more sense,” I say, knowing my cheeks arebright red as he wraps his hand around my ankle, being so very careful as he undoes the buckle of my shoe before finishing the next.
“You’ll know when I’m proposing. There won’t be any question about it.”
If it were anyone else, I’d run for the hills, but I’m honestly impressed JJ’s gone this long without it being brought up considering that within hours of meeting me the first time, he was asking me to move in and marry him. So I’d consider this progress.
After leaving our shoes in the backseat and grabbing his hoodie, JJ’s quick to intertwine our fingers together as we walk toward the sound of waves rolling in. The sand is still warm from the day beneath my feet, and a figure lounging in the sand stands up as we approach, waving.
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells,” Asher says, passing by us to head in the direction we just came from.
The final pieces of JJ’s plan fall into place when we arrive at the blanket, weighed down on the corners with stones and the picnic basket in the middle.
A lump forms in my throat by the sheer thought JJ put into this, and this is . . .I don’t even have words.
“Do you like it?” he asks, and I don’t know why he would think I wouldn’t?
“I love it. Thank you,” I say, my voice wobbling as I blink back tears, squeezing his hand. “It’s perfect. What are we having?”
“Baked macaroni and cheese. I’m sorry it’s not normal picnic food, but at least it’s not breakfast? I’m trying to branch out from my comfort zone,” JJ says and I sit on the blanket as he opens the bag to pull out the containers, passing one of them to me with a fork.
I crack the lid open, and Asher was right. It does smell good. “You made this?” I ask, impressed.
“Yeah.” JJ’s cheeks flush as he pulls out two small bottles of lemonade, and he cracks the seal on one before offering it to me. “I figured one of us should be able to somewhat cook so we don’t starve.”
“Hey, the eggs I made last week were edible,” I say, pointing out the breakfast I made him, and his expression wavers. “What’s the face for?” I ask, and he scratches the back of his neck.
“I love you, but they were crunchy.”
“Crunchy? Like eggshells were in them?” I ask, gaping at JJ as he nods, taking a bite.I’m sorry, what?“JJ! Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You just looked so proud of yourself, and I didn’t want to make you feel bad.”
“Oh my god.” I groan, covering my face with my hands.I was proud of myself for not messing them up, but I can’t even cook eggs right.“But you still ate them? What if you got sick?”
“Marley, it’s fine,” he says, smiling, and I’m mortified. “If it makes you feel better, I only had a few bites before you went into the bathroom, and I hid them in the trash can. I think the shells are supposed to add extra nutrients anyway.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, but holy shit, I think JJ might be insane. Who the hell eats eggs witheggshellsin them because they don’t want to make their girlfriend—who can’t cook to save her life apparently—feel bad?
