“I am focused,” I clap back, angrily biting into another breadstick. I had considered getting some salad, but I’m too deep into this lasagna to even begin convincing myself to eat cold lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers just because it’s healthy.
After taking a sip of tea, I ask, “What about sleeping arrangements? How are we going to do that?”
“We’ll have to share the primary bedroom. Fortunately, we have a sofa in our—my—bedroom. I’ll sleep there if that’ll make you more comfortable.”
“You’re not sleeping on the sofa, Brix.”
“I seriously don’t mind it. I want you to be comfortable.”
“I’ll just wait until your parents fall asleep and sneak into a different bedroom.”
“No. Too risky. I don’t want you to get caught.”
I frown and ask, “How am I going to get caught?”
He hikes up a shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe my dad gets up to use the bathroom and sees you in the hallway in your nightgown tiptoeing to another bedroom.”
“They have their own bathroom in their bedroom, so that’s not likely.”
“Well, maybe he goes downstairs for a drink. Or, perhaps my mother hears the door creak and gets up to inspect and see you creeping like Rickey Smiley inFriday After Next.”
Brix chuckles. I always loved the way his face lights up when he’s tickled.
I say, “First of all, doors don’t creak in million-dollar mansions. Second, I wouldn’t tiptoe. I’ll just cascade down the hall like a—”
“Ghost?”
He laughs more, his shoulders bouncing as he does so.
“Okay, fine,” I say indignantly. “We’ll do everythingyourway. I won’t make any suggestions. Happy?”
“Cyn, I was just–Cyn?”
“What?” I ask as I scoop more lasagna from the dish, feeling my thighs expanding already.
“Look at me.”
“Why?” I ask, not giving in to his request because he knows he done pissed me off, and now he wants me to look at him. At the happiness on his face. The way his eyes crinkle in the corners when he smiles. The way he just looks – happy.
“I want you to see my intention. Look at me.”
I look up at him, catching the gorgeous face of the man who still makes my heart skip a beat. It’s not often I see him with a beard. Per hospital policy, he cannot have one, but since he’s off this week, that five o’clock shadow has emerged, exhibiting main character energy. It makes him look even finer than he already is.
He smiles. I swear my heart just did a pirouette.
“Ah, there. That’s better,” he tells me, our pupils marrying across this table, taking me back to the day we said our vows. The way he pried my mouth open with his tongue in front of our family and friends and kissed me like the world was ending. His mother had shouted,Save some for the honeymoon, wearing a white hat that resembled a tilting flying saucer. Looked like something that belonged in Area 51.
“You have my attention, now what’s yourintention?”
“I don’t want to make this any harder than it already is, Cyn. I just want things to go smoothly.”
“What couldpossiblygo wrong?” I ask caustically.
He stares, his eyes lowering just enough to let me know I’m irritating him.
Yes. I’m doing exactly what I set out to do.
“Cyn, if you don’t want to do this–”
