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“Maybe some,” I admitted.
“It’s okay to freak out, Matthew. To be stressed about change.”
“I accused you of being ashamed of me,” I said, my stomach twisting as anxiety rose and I started getting away from the point of this conversation. “Even when I know it’s not true.”
There’s the spiraling.
“Knowing something and believing it are two different things. Maybe your brain told you one thing, but your heart was screaming something else,” he said, making it sound completely rational.
I don’t know how he did it. Just accepted me as I was, even going so far as putting a label on things like he knew it would settle me.
I didn’t even know it would settle me. It did. He did.
I’m so attached to you.
“I just feel better with you.”
Despite my protests, he pulled our clasped hands out of my lap so he could kiss the back of my fingers. “I’m glad, baby.”
My stomach swooped, and I yanked his arm back into my lap, burying it there once more.
He laughed, the sound to my entire body was what warm honey was to a sore throat.
We pulled into the lot at Shirley’s, which was already filled with Elite cars.
“Those bros sure like their Jeeps,” he mused.
“They tried to convince Rush to get one. If it’s not a Chevy, he isn’t interested,” I said, looking at the two blue Corvettes as he parked beside them. “And he insisted Lars match him and not the others.”
“Whose Harley is that parked right behind the yellow Jeep?”
“Max,” I answered, eyes moving to the motorcycle blocking in his boyfriend’s Jeep. “It’s spring now, so he’ll be driving it everywhere.”
“He doesn’t swim, right?”
I shook my head. “He’s a tattoo artist.”
“Stay there. I’ll come around,” Arsen said, shutting off the engine and grabbing the keys.
I didn’t have the energy to argue or be bratty, so I waited until he came around and opened the passenger door. It was raining steadily now, the air scented with earth and damp leaves.
He took my hand, and we made a dash for the door with him pulling it open for me to go in first. The scent of coffee, waffles, and frying bacon was welcome and familiar, unknotting some of the tension between my shoulder blades. On cue, my stomach growled loudly.
The bell on the door jingled, and an arm found its way around my waist. Startled, I glanced at Arsen who tucked me into his side. My cheeks flushed, and I knew without having to ask they were likely flaming.
“You’re adorable,” Arsen said under his breath. “You want me to back off a little?”
“No,” I said quickly. And loudly.
He grinned, white teeth flashing as his eyes shone with pride. Leaning in, he kissed my temple, then nudged the spot with his nose. My stomach fell out right there at my feet. Shirley was gonna come by and toss it on the grill.
“Show me where you usually sit, baby,” he murmured.
How was I supposed to remember? How could I function at all with his hands on me?
“That must be your secret,” I told him.
His brows puzzled.
