“I love it,” I whisper.
I might love you too, I almost add.
“Can’t forget the best part.” He grins at the blankets andpillows spread out in the trunk. The wicker picnic basket and a small lantern. A bottle of red wine and two plastic glasses. “Food.”
“We’re going to have a picnic?”
“And look for a comet that’s supposed to come through around ten. I have a portable fan so we stay cool. Mosquito repellent so we don’t get eaten alive. Oh, and key lime pie for dessert. Publix brand, because you said everything else is inferior.”
Every detail is carefully planned out. He hasn’t missed a single thing, and if asked about my perfect date, a night that would make me the happiest girl in the world, I would show them this.
I kick off my shoes and so does he. I climb into the trunk and stretch out my legs, giddy when he hands me a warm burger wrapped tightly in aluminum and an entire bottle of ketchup. “We’ve been driving forever. How is it still hot?”
“I put it in one of those thermal bags. No one likes a cold burger.” Sebastian settles next to me, our thighs pressing against each other. “Can’t believe it’s October.”
“Right? Summer is almost over, and I’m sad.” I sigh, resting my head on his shoulder. “How’s the docuseries going?”
“I’m still sorting through Georgianna footage. Thanks for all the videos you sent me, by the way.” He pauses. “I told my bosses in New York I applied to the NWS.”
“You did? How did that go?”
“He said that if I don’t get the position, he’ll expect me back in the studio next week.”
“Next week? But the hurricane season goes through November.
That’s two more months of filming.”
“I know.” Sebastian sets down his burger and traces over the curve of my shoulder. “But they think I have enough content to last the eight episodes they signed on for.”
“Back to New York. That’s not as close as Cooper’s house.”
“No, it’s not, which is why I need to be honest with you, Quincy.” He adjusts our positions, moving me so I slot between his thighs. I rest my back against his chest, desperate to hear what he’s going to say next. “This thing between us? It’s not something casual to me, and I don’t want it to be casual. I know we had rules, and I know you said rules are meant to be broken, and that’s what I want to do. I want to figure out a way to make a relationship with you work. I want something real, something we’re going to have to work hard for, because I’m picturing my life six months from now, and can’t fucking stand the thought of you not being in it. You are the best part of every single day I’ve had this summer, and I don’t want to let that go. Not yet.”
“Is there room in your life for me like that?” I rest my hand on his leg, drumming my fingers over his knee. “This isn’t casual for me either, but you have an important job and travel assignments that take you all over the globe. I’ll be at work in the morning. You’ll be at work in the evening. We’ll miss the call we scheduled and … and I’m scared,” I whisper, finally letting the truth out. “Of going down this road, of … liking you so much, that if it doesn’t work out, I would be—” I shake my head. “When I thought I lost you in Georgianna, ithurt. I’ve never felt pain like that before, and my heart wouldn’t be able to go through that again.”
“You want to know if there’s room in my life for you?” Sebastian puts his phone in my hands. “My passcode.”
“What about it?”
“You’re my passcode.”
I look down at the screen. “I’m not following.”
“Eight goes with the letterT.” He taps the first number, and I’ve stopped breathing. “Seven goes with the letterR.” The second number comes next. “Three andD. Seven again with the letterS.”
“TRDS.” My brain is slow to catch up. When it does, I shove myburger aside. I spin in his arms and stare at him. “The Rainy Day Show. Me.”
“You, Quincy. It’s been you for a while.”
“How would this work logistically? If I get the NWS job, I’ll be here, and you’ll be in New York. If you get the job, you’ll be commuting to Melbourne and putting in long hours.”
He lifts my hand, kissing my palm. “I’m not hopeful I’m going to get the job after what went down at the interview, and I’ve made peace with that. Assuming you get it—and you should—we could try long distance and figure out a schedule. You’re a priority for me, Quinny baby, and we’ll make it work.”
We’ll make it work because I think I love you. And I hope you love me too.
I kiss him after that. I run my hands over his sculpted shoulders, down his back. He reaches for my dress, mumbling a curse under his breath when he realizes there are shorts attached.
“I didn’t bring you out here to do this.” Sebastian lifts me and puts me in his lap, my thighs on either side of his. “It was supposed to be romantic. A grand gesture where I begged you to take a chance on me.”
