After her walk, I’ll probably end up taking a shower myself. But unlike Cara’s, it’ll be a cold one.
Chapter Forty-Four
Cara
I’m laughing so hard when Hayden opens his door, I almost fall into his apartment. I’m utterly exhausted, slightly sunburned, a lot windblown, and I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed a day so much.
“You have to delete that,” Hayden says, and he’s trying his best to sound stern, but the effort he’s putting into not laughing takes the bite out of the words.
“I’m never deleting it.” I slide the phone into my pocket just in case he tries to grab for it.
Not that it would do him any good. I emailed the video of Hayden trying to mimic the way the penguins walked to myself before we even left the aquarium. It was safely backed up long before I played it for him in the elevator.
I’ll never show it to anybody else, of course, but I’m keeping it for myself. It’s an adorable video, showing a side of the man I think very few people ever get to see. Daisy and AJ, for sure, but few others.
Luckily, Penny’s joy at her favorite human being home distracts him, and he seems to forget my phone as he gives her belly rubs. Once he’s done greeting her, she comes straight to me and we plop on the couch for a cuddle.
He looks at us getting settled in for some comfy time, and cocks his eyebrow. “We have reservations in a little less than two hours.”
I groan and press my hand to my stomach. “You can’t be serious.”
“I didn’t know you have a thing for food trucks when I made the reservation.”
“In my defense, I didn’t know I have a thing for food trucks until today.” I feel bad now, because the reservation is for a very fancy restaurant, according to my sneaky Google search. I’d packed a decent dress and sandals, just in case, but I can’t imagine putting more food in my stomach only two hours from now.
“Shall I cancel?” he asks.
I search his face for any signs of disappointment or annoyance, but I see nothing but amusement. Maybe even a little affection. “I could probably manage a few bites of your dessert if you want to go, but I wouldn’t be eating a whole dinner.”
“I’ll just cancel. It’s not a big deal, and I’m pretty sure I walked more today than I have in the last week, so I’m not sad about staying in. Movie?”
I’m so relieved, I melt a little deeper into the couch, which I didn’t think was possible. Penny stretches herself over my stomach and chest and goes to sleep.
There are worse ways to spend an evening. Hayden has all kinds of streaming services, so I choose an action movie I would have seen in the theaters last year if we had a movie theater in town. Or if I could afford the gas and ticket price to drive to the nearest one.
“You have very bad taste in movies,” Hayden says at the halfway point.
I laugh, earning a perturbed look from Penny. After huffing out a sigh, she decides to switch humans and goes to wedge herself between the arm of the recliner and Hayden’s thigh.
“Okay, it’s bad,” I admit. “But at least it’s funny in its badness and not just boring bad.”
Since neither of have to pretend we’re watching a decent movie, we talk through the rest of it—mocking plot holes and making snarky remarks about the dialogue. It’s more entertaining than the actual movie and when the credits roll, I find myself wishing it was longer.
Once it’s over, I force myself up off the ridiculously comfortable couch and go to the fridge to pour a glass of water. Though I didn’t hear him follow me, I jump when Hayden peeks over my shoulder.
“Are we rummaging for snacks since we didn’t have supper?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “We didn’t have supper because we ate all day. You can’t be hungry, Hayden.”
“Not really.” He reaches around me and plucks a branch of grapes from the container in his fridge. “Grapes are always good, though.”
“I don’t remember the last time I had grapes,” I confess, closing the fridge door.
He smiles and holds one out in front of my lips. I open—purely reflex—and he pops it into my mouth. As I bite down and sweet juice floods my mouth, he runs his thumb along my lower lip.
Our gazes lock, and the hunger in his eyes makes me shiver. “Hayden.”
“I don’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a day as much as this one.”
