“Anything,” I state simply.
“Even… a beach day?” There’s nervousness in the words, though I have no idea why.
“You in a bikini? I don’t think you have to twist my arm, June,” I laugh.
“My friends will be there. Everyone’s meeting at the beach behind the Seabreeze this afternoon to unwind after a busy weekend.” Without meaning to, I know my face changes a bit, and she sees it. “You can say no,” she starts, trying to cover quickly, though I don’t miss the disappointment that flashes across her face.
“No, no,” I start, shaking my head, trying to push away the discomfort in my chest. “I just…I don’t want to get in the way of you spending time with friends.”
She licks her lips, setting a hand to my shoulder, the other coming up to brush my hair back. I lean into her touch, and she smiles a bit.
“Is this…is this going somewhere?”
“I really hope so,” I answer honestly and instantly, making her smile wider.
“Then you’re going to become a part of the crew. You don’t just get one friend when you’re tied to me. You get a bunch.” I stare at her, uneasy at the idea of friends, but her warm smile spreads wide, and I can’t hold onto my hesitancy much longer. “So that means this afternoon we’re all going to the bay behind the Seabreeze for a grill and hang out, and it’s going to be so fun. The girls will grill me, of course, but otherwise it will be smooth sailing. Claire gets off at noon today, and Lainey’s dad is taking over at the Seabreeze for the night. It’s the perfect, low-key way to reintroduce you to everyone as my….” She hesitates, unsure.
“As your…” I encourage.
“I just realized I have no idea what we are. I know we…you know…but I shouldn’t have assumed?—”
I cut her off, pressing my lips to hers, hard, before settling my forehead to hers.
“You’re mine, June.”
“Okay,” she says, her words trailing off, unsure. “But what does that mean to you?”
I brush my thumb over her cheek, collecting my thoughts before spilling them.
“It means if I see you flirting with another man, I’ll lose my mind.” She rolls her lips into her mouth and tries to fight. a smile. “It means as many nights as possible, I want you sleeping in my bed.” Her breathing hitches, and my hand slips under the back of the tee she’s wearing, gilding over her hip and to her waist. “It means that even if we’re busy, you force me to take lunch with you. It means I’m probably going to pull you into myoffice a few times a day to kiss you, because I’ve got an empty well that I need to fill. It means I’m going to push you with your business, and you’re going to push me to focus on anything other than work occasionally, because we care about each other. It means you’re mine.”
“I can work with that,” she says, voice husky. Her hips tip, and I know that neither of us will be able to concentrate much longer. “So when people ask, I say you’re my…”
I slide my hand up and down her waist, my thumb brushing along her ribs.
“Whatever you want to call me, lady luck.”
A soft breath leaves her lips at the term of endearment, the same way it has the other handful of times, and it makes me aspire to use it even more.
“Boyfriend?” She barks out a laugh at what I can only assume is a sharp look of distaste that crosses my face. “Not a fan of boyfriend. Is that because…” she starts, but I finish.
“Because I’m a thirty-four-year-old man, not a boy.” That fire returns, and she licks her lips.
“Man friend?” she suggests.
“That sounds like I’ve been hired.” She lets out another laugh. “How about your man?”
“Like the sound of that,” she says. I settle my arms to her hips, sliding her as close to me as I can, chest to chest, her lips brushing mine.
“Is it important to you?
“Important to me?”
“Me going to the beach today,” I clarify.
“Oh, hum….” she says, looking away, but I lift a hand, keeping her face directed to mine.
“It’s important to you. It’s important to you, so I’m there.” Her eyes light up, and I know it was the right decision.
