“No!” The word slips out before I can stop it.
Gavin goes still. His eyes settle on mine. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not ready for you to leave yet.”
“Not ready?”
“No.” My heart starts beating faster. “I mean… I’ll need your help. My ankle still hurts. And the chickens will start yelling atsunrise. And you already ate my leftover soup, so I’ll need help making something to eat...”
He steps closer. “You’re listing excuses.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the real reason sounds slightly ridiculous.”
“Try me.”
I swallow. “Because tonight has been the longest conversation we’ve ever had and I don’t want it to end yet.”
Silence fills the kitchen. Raider shifts on the rug and sighs.
Gavin reaches for the edge of the table. “Good.”
My eyebrows lift. “Good?”
“I don’t want to leave either.”
My stomach flips. “You don’t?”
“No.”
He pulls out the chair across from me but doesn’t sit right away. Instead he studies my face like he is trying to memorize it.
“I’ve been thinking about asking you out for months.”
My eyes widen. “Why didn’t you?”
“You were always busy.”
“Selling vegetables.”
“Yes.”
“That seems like a weak excuse.”
“I’m aware.”
I laugh softly. “Well… if it helps, I would have said yes.”
“That helps a lot.”
He finally sits. The kitchen feels warmer somehow. Raider stretches out on the rug, apparently satisfied that he doesn’t have to go anywhere.
I look at Gavin across the table. “So, what happens now?”
He reaches across the table and gently takes my hand. The touch is warm and steady. My breath catches.
