“Oh, sweetie, you are welcome anytime. Come have lunch with me one day. Marcus will give you my number.”
“That sounds nice. I will definitely do that.”
My answer pleases her. Mr. and Mrs. Marcketti both stand and round the table to say goodbye. I wave to Bryn right before Nora pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so glad he found you. It’s nice to see him step up as a man. He’s been restless for too long,” she whispers into my ear, squeezing me a little tighter as she finishes speaking. She pulls back with a smile and tucks my hair behind my ear with motherly affection. It makes me miss my mom. I give her a genuine smile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Gianni hug Mark and pat him on the back like he’s proud. The smile on Mark’s facemelts my heart. Gianni then holds his arms out for a hug from me. I step in and give him a hug as well.
“I like her for you, Marcus. Don’t let her get away.”
Mark looks at me with a gleam in his eye that makes my heart start to race.
“I have no intention of letting that happen.”
Mark leads me back out to his truck, helping me up into the seat. The air around us is thick with tension, but it’s not just our chemistry. I think the weight of his parents’ words is settling in. I think we’re both thinking about what this means for our future. The fact that we’re thinking about a future. The fact that what is going on between us is so much more than just attraction. The feelings swirling in the air are heavy and neither of us know how to voice it.Or if we even should voice it yet.
“They loved you, just like I knew they would,” Mark says as he reaches to grab my hand. He lifts it to his lips, pressing a kiss to my palm as he turns the wheel with one hand and pulls out of his parking spot along the street. The action feels intimate, and it warms me to my bones. He sets our entwined fingers on his thigh and drives back toward his place instead of mine.
“I know we were planning on me coming to stay the weekend, but I don’t want to leave you tonight. That okay?”
My pulse quickens, and I nod my assent.
“Of course. I’d never say no to cuddles.”
He hums in agreement, turning into his drive.
“I’ll just be a couple of minutes. I practically have my bag already ready to go. You can either come in or wait here.”
“I’ll wait here.”
“Okay,” he leans over and pecks me on the lips.
I watch as he jogs up to the house and disappears inside. He doesn’t want to leave me tonight. I feel jittery like a high school girl experiencing love for the first time. It’s exhilarating. It’s terrifying.Shit.How am I going to tell him? It’s way toosoon right? I mean, we’ve known each other for basically a year already, but it’s too soon right?
I hear the door to the truck shut and realize I’d completely zoned out in my thoughts and didn’t even hear him come back.
“Babe? You okay?”
“Oh yeah. I’m good. I was just a little distracted, I guess.”
“Do we need another ‘secrets in the dark’ moment, even though it’s not fully dark out yet?”
Yes.
“No, I’m good. Just replaying the evening in my head. I like them, Mark.”
His boyish grin is enhanced by the lights of the dash as he backs out and speeds off toward my place.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
23
Mark
Ifollow Ava inside and go drop my bag in the bedroom.
“I need to go water my flowers and feed the fish. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
