He chuckles, pushing the door open wide enough for us to both exit. “I think I know you better than that by now, Ems.”
I tuck myself closer into his side the moment we step outside and the cold air hits me. The café is only two doorsdown, and after a quick stop for some cocoa, we take our drinks and meander down the main street of Pine Springs.
I sip from my cup, letting the warmth seep into me. “It’s kind of a bummer we missed the winter holiday festival. I bet it’s super cute.”
“The cutest.” He grins down at me before swigging from his cup. “We could always come back during the holiday season.”
The words hang there for just a minute, the perfect segue, dangling right there in front of us.
I break the silence first. “You think you’ll still want to be banging me in a year?”
“Technically, it’s only eight months.”
I elbow him in the ribs.
He dodges my half-hearted blow but still doesn’t answer my question.
We end up at the tiny park at the far end of downtown. I finish the last of my drink and toss my cup in a trash can. Grayson does the same before lacing our fingers together and pulling me into the tiny white gazebo at the entrance of the park.
I slip my hands underneath Grayson’s jacket, between his coat and sweater, because I’m already cold again and also because I need to feel him. He wraps his arms around me, settling them at my lower back.
It doesn’t take long to realize he’s not going to let me out of this one. He rests his chin on the top of my head like he’s content to stay in this silence for as long as it takes, and dammit, I’m too freaking cold for this emotional warfare.
“What if we suck together when we get home?” I finally blurt out, clearly not having thought through my phrasing at all, even the slightest bit.
His laughter rumbles through me. “That one’s just too easy.”
I put a little distance between us but not much because fuck the cold. “I’m trying to be serious here.”
“I know.” He dips down to plant a quick peck on my pouting lips. “But I’d hope you know by now I am going to rib you at every possible moment.”
I slip one hand under his sweater and pinch his hip.
He squeals, and revenge tastes sweet. “Okay. Okay. Why would you think we would su— Why do you think we won’t work when we get back to LA?”
I shrug my shoulders, hoping he gets it as the helpless gesture it is. “This isn’t real life, West. What we’ve been doing for the past few weeks isn’t real life. And when we get home and are smacked in the face with reality, well, maybe we’ll find we really do despise each other after all.” Just the thought cracks my heart.
“Hey.” He takes my face in his hands, his gloves scratchy yet warm on my cheeks. “I never despised you, Ems. Never. I didn’t even dislike you. I mostly thought we gave each other a hard time because it was fun.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course. But that doesn’t mean we’re well suited for a relationship. A relationship comprised of more than just sex.”
His eyes heat, and a grin tugs on his lips. “It is pretty good sex though, isn’t it?”
I glare at him. “Not the point.”
He moves his hands to my hips, pressing us together. “Idon’t know what to tell you, Emmy. We don’t know if we’ll work in the real world until we try it out and see.”
“Do you want us to work in the real world?”
“Do you?”
I shift my hips subtly into his. “I asked you first.”
He leans down and kisses me softly, a gentle press of his lips that’s over far too soon. “I want us to work in the real world.”
My hands travel around his back, coming to rest on his chest. “I do, too.”
“Yeah?” A slow smile spreads across his lips.
