Page 61 of Waiting on Life
We went to the car, and I opened his door for him. Once he slid into the seat with a grace and elegance only he could pull off, I closed it and went around to my side. My hands were damp with what was coming, and I hope Kyle took it in the spirit it was intended.
“You okay?”
His soft words startled me. “Fine. Why?”
“Your face is pale.” Kyle reached up and stroked the beard he’d insisted I grow back. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I am. It’s our six-month anniversary. I have to impress my boyfriend.”
He snorted. “You do if you want to make it another six months.” He put a hand on my leg. “You know you don’t need to give me things or take me places, right? Where you are is where my home is.”
He was forever saying sweet shit like that, and it made my insides melt into a puddle of goo.
“How are classes going?” I asked, doing my best to change the subject.
“Yeah, any thoughts you had that you were smooth? Forget them. You aresonot. And to answer your question, classes are fine.”
He’d been taking some mystery courses for the past three months, insisting he was finding ways to branch out and learn new things. I admit, I was curious as hell, especially when I came home from work at night, my ass dragging as always, and when I got off the elevator, our hallway was redolent with herbs and scents I couldn’t identify. Admittedly, they made me feel better, because I knew Kyle was in there, doing whatever it was Kyle was keeping from me.
Not that I was curious, of course. Not me. No.
“Are you ever going to tell me?”
The answer was a slight smile. “Maybe sooner than you think,” he teased.
We pulled up outside Bacchus, the restaurant I’d booked for us tonight. This was going to be a memorable evening for both of us, one way or another.
“Why are we here?” Kyle asked. “Isn’t this place, like, crazy expensive?”
It had set me back a pretty penny, but if it could make Kyle smile, it would be worth it to me.
“You only get one six-month anniversary,” I told him. “I wanted it to be special. Now shut up and let’s get inside.”
We entered the restaurant, and the host whisked us away to our private room. And now the show was about to start. I put my hand on the door, then turned to Kyle.
“Before we go in, there’s something I want you to know.”
His lip quirked. “Well, I know I’m not pregnant, and I’m almost certain you aren’t.”
Normally I would have laughed, but my stomach was rolling. The thought that this could blow up in my face still swirled in my head.
“I did something, and I don’t want you to be angry. Promise me you’ll take it for how it was intended, okay?”
He nodded, and I pushed the door open.
“Surprise!” everyone in the room shouted.
Kyle walked in. “Hey, Mom. How are you?”
I couldn’t understand it. I mean, I expected him to be at least a little surprised.
“You look amazing,” she gushed, wrapping her thin arms around Kyle’s shoulder and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you. So do you.” He turned to his roommate. “Hey, Pete.”
I admit, I’m not the brightest bulb in the pack, so it wasn’t a surprise that it took a few minutes for me to catch on.
“You knew.”
