Page 74 of Make Me Swoon

“Yeah,” she says, just as sleepily and I can’t help but smile as I drift off to sleep.

When I open my eyes later, I’m face to face with Phoenix and I realize right away that this is how I want to wake up from now on.

EIGHT

Phoenix

I managedto keep everything down today, so things are starting to go back to normal. If normal includes a date with my boss.

I’m still recovering and feeling tired so Jameson and I are snuggled down in the living room with Faith between us.The Lion Kingis playing right now and there’s a mostly empty pizza box from Faith’s favorite place on the coffee table.

“I don’t like this part,” Faith whispers to me and I snuggle closer to her.

“Me either,” I whisper back as Scar leads Simba to the ravine.

We both cry when Mufasa dies and I look over to see Jameson staring at both of us with a bewildered expression on his face.

“How are you not crying?” I choke out and he just shrugs.

“It’s a kid’s movie… and I’ve seen it before.”

“Monster,” I whisper at him and he cracks a smile.

“Shh,” Faith shushes us and I bite my own smile.

We settle in to watch the movie and some of my nerves slip away. Having Faith as a buffer definitely helps things, but I can’t help but wonder what will happen when she falls asleep.

Another hour goes by and then Jameson leans over and whispers, “I’m going to go tuck her in.”

I nod, watching as he gathers her up and carries her upstairs. Something about seeing him care for Faith does something to me. It feels like my ovaries are going to explode. He’s so sweet with her, and I can see how much he loves her every time he looks at her.

My grandma would have called him dreamy and been pushing him in my direction this whole time. Thinking about her and how she would have gone on and on about how perfect Jameson is has me smiling. She would have told me to go for him or she would.

Tears sting my eyes, even as I smile and I wipe them away right as Jameson comes back into the living room.

“The movie getting to you again?” he asks as he sits down next to me and I smile.

“No, I was thinking about my grandma and what she would say about you.”

“Oh yeah? What’s the verdict?”

“She would have loved you,” I tell him and he grins.

“Glad to hear that she has good taste.”

“Had. She passed away a few years ago,” I admit and his smile drops.

“Right… I knew that. Shit, I’m sorry, Phoenix.”

I nod, swallowing hard.

“Thanks.”

We both forget all about the movie playing on the screen as we shift on the couch to face each other more.

“Were you close with your parents?” I ask him and he gives me a sad smile.

“No, not really. They were too busy being the best surgeons that they could be to pay much attention to their kids. I had my brother though,” he says with a shrug and I smile.

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