He leered, his eyebrows raising as he did. “I had more important things to do yesterday, remember?”
His smile grew, as did its infectiousness, and soon my cheeks were pink and aching as we grinned at each other like teenagers. Because that’s kind of how it felt. The novelty of the change in our relationship, of allowing myself to acknowledge my feelings, of it being okay to do so, was making me lightheaded.
I rubbed the ache from my cheeks. “She saw the flowers.”
“Okay…”
“I told her we kissed.”
“Okay…”
I bit down on my lip. “Are you mad?”
He frowned. “Why would I be mad?”
“Because you wanted to talk to Cooper.”
“I will, but the boys left last night and they won’t be back until tomorrow night, and I’m not doing it over the phone.”
“Okay.”
“Mol, talk to me.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s nothing. I just didn’t want you to be pissed because she knew.”
“I’m not ever going to be pissed that you’ve told your mom. I know this is new and we’re figuring things out, but we’re not a dirty secret. I’ll deal with your brother.”
“Okay.”
“Are you sure that’s all that bothering you?” His face dropped, turning ashen. “Mol, are you having second thoughts?”
I shook my head again. “No, of course not. I promise.”
He frowned and I knew it was because he didn’t quite believe me but wasn’t going to push the point. I’d get that later, so either way I’d be telling him what had been bothering me. That I’d never held a relationship down because my job always got in the way.
“Okay, well, what are you doing later? Because I was thinking I could come to your place and we could decorate the tree like we do every year.”
“Yes, please. I’d love that.”
“But you know I can’t move very well, so this year I’ll just be telling you what to do and you’ll have to do it.”
“How is that different from every other year?” I raised my eyebrow.
“It’s not, but this year I have an excuse. Plus this year will involve kissing.” He winked at me, making me laugh. “Okay, I need to go. I’m pulling up to Freddie’s so I can check on her. I’ll swing by the hospital later to collect you. What time do you finish?”
“About seven.”
“Do I need to pick a tree on the way or are we doing that together?”
“Together.”
“Correct answer,” his face lit up and his voice softened, “because that’s how it’s going to be from now on.”
He put the phone down with another wink. My cheeks started aching again and this time I didn’t bother to hold back the smile.
Chapter 30
Islipped my phone back into my pocket as Ralph punched in the gate code at Cooper’s house and we sat there waiting for them to swing open.
