Page 136 of Lovebug
“How about your mom and dad? Did they end up joining?”
“They stopped over for coffee afterward. Baby steps. Maybe next time you’ll come with me.” I peek up at him and give him a sassy look.
He sighs. “Next time, I’d absolutely love to be there. Ijust felt like this first time, you should go get to know them sans buffer.” He says this like he’s already expressed this opinion. That’s because he has. Several times. I just really wanted him to come with me. When he’s with me, I feel the most like myself. And yes, I know that’s odd, because I’ve only known him for… I’ve only known him for…
“Hey, I just realized something.” I prop myself up on an elbow so I can look directly at him.
“What’s that?” He stays lying on his back and looks up at me with those dreamy blue eyes that I love so much.
“I don’t count the days we’ve been together!”
“Hmm?”
“That’s something I’ve always done! Count the days I’ve known someone. A new friend. An acquaintance. A boyfriend. But I don’t do that with you.”
“Uh-oh,” he murmurs. “Should I be worried?”
“No.” I shake my head and smile. “I don’t think you should.” I take a moment to consider how to explain this, even to myself. “I think… I’ve done that for so long because I never really trust that a new connection with someone will last. It’s almost like I’m counting the days until it’s inevitably over. But with you… I don’t know… it’s like from the moment you whooshed past me on that trail, it felt like we were picking up where we left off. Like somehow, I’d always known you. And somehow, I’m confident I always will.”
“Damn girl.” He wraps his strong arm around my neck to draw me close until our lips are almost brushing. “Look at you, romancing the shit out of me.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” I laugh.
“That’s what you’re doing,” he says with a smile. Then he closes that tiny bit of distance between us and kisses me until I’m breathless. I barely notice that he’s expertly rolled us until I’m lying flat on my back and staring up at this big, beautiful man on top of me who has quite the naughty look in his eyes.
“Oh!” I exclaim.
“Geez!” he startles.
“Sorry.” I reach my hand up to cup his cheek. “Didn’t mean to scare you, big guy.”
He laughs and settles next to me on his side, dropping whatever delicious thing he was about to do. “What is it, milady?”
“Oh, man,” I sigh. “For the record, I am not trying to resist ‘da pleasure’...”
“Mabel, after what you just did in this tent, I’m very confident now that ‘resisting da pleasure’ is a thing of the distant past.”
“Yeah, it is!” I cheer and lift my hand for a high five. He slaps me a good one. Such a good sport, this guy.
“So what did you want to tell me?” he asks.
“I just finally figured out what bug Chloe is!”
“Excuse me?”
“She’s a katydid! She’s super chirpy, and when she gets excited, she rubs her hands together. Like this.” I do an impersonation of my exuberant new half sister. “Phew! I’m so relieved I figured it out. That was going to bother me, big time.”
“Hold the phone, woman,” Wally says. “Are you telling me you have a bug equivalent for every human in your life?”
“That’s what I’m telling you, yes,” I answer proudly.
“Yes?” His face is priceless.
“You heard me. Yes! You think I’m joking, Beiber? Go on, quiz me!”
He shoots up to sit cross-legged like this is serious business. I mirror his position and do the same.I watch him ponder the possibilities for a second.
“Your mother,” he challenges.
