“Okay…well, I will…” Peter motions to the rock, then climbs on and sits. I scurry up after sitting next to him.
“Awesome! Okay, Dylan, let’s have you scooch a little closer and drape your legs over Peter.”
I do, and Peter turns crimson. I bite my lip to keep from giggling. This is so freaking sweet! I’m used to meeting a dude on Grindr, fucking, then trying to delicately ask what his name is after sex because I fucking forgot! Peter is older, yet he’s so…refreshing. His bashfulness makes my chest squeeze.
I can see him having a mini panic attack, trying to figure out where to put his hand. He goes to set it on my leg, then backs off, and decides to set it on the rock.
The problem is that the top of this rock isn’t that big, so he’s just gripping the side of it.
I look at Sadie, her head cocked, and her eyes narrowed. “Hmm…something is off. Peter, can you try resting your hand on Dylan’s thigh? Is that okay, Dylan?”
“Totally okay.”
More than okay.
Peter rests his hand on my thigh.
Sadie gives us a thumbs up. “Much better. Now, just keep looking at each other. This is great.”
The camera clicks, and Peter looks very uncomfortable. I’m not sure what’s wrong. Is it the thigh thing? Maybe he thinks I’m uncomfortable or something.
I rest my hand on his, and he looks at it. Then his eyes meet mine, and he takes a deep breath.
My fingers brush over his soft skin. His hands are big, and I look down and notice a scattering of freckles on his wrist.
“I love freckles,” I whisper.
“Really? Todd always made fun of them.”
His face shudders, like he hadn’t wanted to say that. “Is that your ex?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Well, Todd’s an idiot.”
Peter stares at me, almost in disbelief. “I’ve always hated my freckles.”
“Don’t! I love them. C’mon, everyone wants a ginger.”
He shakes his head, laughing as he says, “I think you’re overestimating the allure of red hair and excess melanin.”
“No, I think Todd underestimated your allure. The whole department had a crush on you.”
“Stop that. They did not.”
I very discreetly pull his hand a little further up my thigh so that I can properly wrap my hand around it. “They sure did.”
Sadie’s voice startles both of us. “This is beautiful! Can you two lean in a little closer? This chemistry is off the charts!”
We lock eyes once more and lean in a little closer to one another.
Peter smells heavenly. I don’t know if it’s his cologne or if he uses a beard balm, but whatever it is, it smells like cloves.
My eyes close, and I lean in a little more, savoring the smell. His breath is hot on my face, and it makes my whole body heat up.
“D-did you?” Peter asks.
I’m still lost in his scent when I ask, “Hmm?”
