Page 77 of Sunsets at Seaside
“Because they’re waiting for me, and…oh, I love when you kiss my neck.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Wait. Stop.” She pressed her hands to his chest and pushed him away. “This is bad, bad, bad. What kind of a friend am I if I promise to bring them cookie dough and fall into bed with you instead? They need cookie dough.”
Jamie sat back. “Blown off for cookie dough. That’s a new low.”
She pressed her lips to his. “I promise to make it up to you after we’re done.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He drew her into an embrace. “That’s not really why I was out here.”
“Oh. Why were you?”
“Because I thought you were coming in for the night, and I wanted to surprise you with something.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you have cookie dough to deliver?” His lips curved into a teasing smile, and he pulled her into his lap. “Are we still having dinner with your parents when we get back to Boston?”
“Yes, Monday night. Why?” Her father had been overwhelmingly happy for them, while her mother had said she was happy, with no change in the inflection of her voice. She’d followed that statement with a question about how their relationship would impact Jessica’s career. Her mother’s reaction had been a harder pill to swallow than she’d anticipated, but Jessica had drawn upon the advice she’d given Jamie about not blaming Mark for his wanting to protect him. She’d taken that advice and bitten her tongue.
“Remember the day we met?”
“Of course. How could I forget? You walked up to the deck and stole my heart with your smile.”
He rolled his eyes. “Before that.”
“When I pegged you with my phone?” She rubbed his head. “I’m so sorry about that…sort of. If I hadn’t, we’d never have met.”
He smiled. “Right. Totally worth it.”
He reached behind him and handed her a clear glass box. She peered inside. It was hard to see in the dark apartment, but there was no mistaking the shape of the baseball, or Mickey Mantle’s autograph colored in with red Magic Marker.
“Jamie,” she whispered. She squinted, turned the glass in her hands so she could see each side. “How on earth…?”
“Let’s just say that that little boy likes Mickey Mantle’s clear signature a whole lot more than he liked the colored-in one.”
She couldn’t believe it. She’d given up so easily, and not only had he not given up, but he’d kept it a secret this whole time.
“I can’t believe you did this. Do you know how happy my father will be?” Her eyes welled with tears.
“I knew how happy it would make you to give it to him.” He brushed her wet hair from her shoulder.
“We’ll both give it to him. Thank you, Jamie. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“Jessica? Are you in there?” Jenna’s whisper came through the front window.
Jessica covered her mouth with her hand, feeling guilty for taking so long and still reeling from Jamie’s thoughtful gift.
“Of course she is,” Bella said. “Where else would she be?”
“She probably went back to bed with Jamie,” Amy added.
Jamie gathered her in his arms and whispered, “I’m about to do something even nicer for you and pretend I’m asleep so you can go eat cookie dough naked with the girls, when what I really want to do is put that cookie dough all over you and nibble it off.”
He took her in his arms and crashed his mouth over hers, pressing her back to the couch.
“I think she’s sleeping,” Jenna whispered. “I see the edge of the couch. I see her feet. I think.”
