“I promise Iwon’t.”
She takes a sip ofcoffee and moves to sit on a barstool. “Yes you will. We’ll trade off days.Sometimes you come here and sometimes I’ll go there. Is that okay?”
“Of course. You’vegot me totally hooked, girl.” I tip her chin up and kiss her softly. “I’ll dowhatever you want.”
Chapter 23
Skipping work is ahell of a lot of fun. I’ve never taken a day off like this. It’s rare that I’llget sick and have to close the shop, and it was also a special circumstancewhen I took off work for the convention. But skipping work to hang out with aguy? That’s a new one for me. I think Gabe and I are feeling the same way, thatif we leave the other one, even for an hour, then we might not see each otheragain. I didn’t want to leave after our date last night, and I don’t want toleave him now. I know most couples get that puppy love phase of a newrelationship where they like hanging out, but this feels like it’s puppy loveon steroids.
Gabe is gorgeousand amazing and I’m so glad he’s finally mine. When I’d texted him a picture ofus so he could get my number, I’d had two new messages from Lee. I feel awfulfor ignoring them, but I didn’t want to deal with whatever the texts said. Hestill thinks he has a chance with me, and he totally doesn’t. Even if Gabe hadnever surprised me yesterday, Lee and I wouldn’t work out. We just don’t click.
I’ll have to readhis messages eventually and then find a nice way to let him down. But I don’twant to think about that right now.
Gabe returns frombrushing his teeth and I’m glad that I brushed mine as soon as I woke up thismorning. It had been surreal waking up next to a guy. I’ve spent all of my lifesleeping alone, and this was a new experience. But it was a good one. In fact,I think I want to wake up next to Gabe much more than I want to wake up alone. We’veonly been together one day so it’s not like I can declare that we should moveinto together, but I really hope that’s where this relationship is headed.
I’m sipping mycoffee when Gabe walks up and puts his arms around me. “You have extremelyminty toothpaste,” he says, kissing my neck.
I laugh. “Is that acomplement or a complaint?”
“I like it. It’slike chewing minty gum instead of brushing your teeth.” He grabs my hips andturns me around so that I’m facing him. I set my coffee on the counter so Idon’t spill it. “And the best part is …” he says, lowering his forehead tomine. “Now we get to make out.”
“I’m going to tastelike coffee,” I warn him.
“Mmm, coffeebreath,” he whispers playfully just before he kisses me.
And then we’re atit again. Our lips, tongues, hands, all melding together into one steamy makeout session. I revel in the feel of his body pressed against mine, the lingeringsmell of his cologne from last night and his minty fresh breath. He lifts me upand sets me on the countertop while we kiss. I can’t help but laugh becauseit’s all so fast and so passionate and crazy. I can’t believe this is my life.
I hold onto him andwrap my legs around his waist while we make out. Even sitting on the counter,I’m still not as tall as he is, but I don’t have to tilt my head as much tomeet his lips.
Eventually, we pullapart, but Gabe’s arms are still wrapped around me, and my hands are still holdingonto his neck.
“So what’s the planfor today?” Gabe says.
I shrug. “I played hookyat work today so I’m all yours. The weather is nice, so we could go dosomething?”
“Sounds fun,” hesays. “I was thinking we could run by my apartment so I could shower and changeclothes.”
“You could borrowsome of my clothes,” I say with a goofy grin. “I think you’d look amazing inone of my sundresses.”
“Ooh,” he says, as if he’s consideringit. “But then I’d get weird tan lines …”
“Damn,” I say. Weboth laugh.
My phone buzzesfrom its place on the counter, and for a second I worry it’s Lee again. But Ican see the phone screen from here and it’s Livi. I pick it up and read hermessage.
Livi:Enjoying your day off? You better tell meALL. THE. DETAILS. Love you!
I blush and turnoff the phone screen before I have to see Lee’s unanswered texts.
“Everything okay atwork?” Gabe asks.
I nod. “It’s justLivi being Livi.” I slide off the counter. “Okay, so, your place?”
He nods. “I ameighty percent sure my apartment isn’t a filthy embarrassing bachelor pad, butI can’t promise you for sure.”
I laugh,remembering how I was nervous to bring him home to my place last night withoutbeing sure it was clean first. I lucked out, but I’m not about to tell himthat. “Hey now,” I say. “You better not be some gross slob. You’re alreadymaking me fall for you so I don’t want to have to dump your ass if I find out you’resome kind of hoarder or something.”
“Totally not a hoarder,”he says. “All those piles of garbage were there in my apartment before I movedin, I swear.”
