Page 107 of Yours to Keep

Sullivan reached across the table, his fingers brushing mine in a small, almost absent gesture that sent warmth skating up my arm. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

I curled my fingers around his and squeezed. “Yeah, me too.”

A slight smirk ghosted across his features. “I’m thinking Fiji next. I know you loved the food in the Bahamas, but I hear Fiji is lovely this time of year.”

I groaned. “I’m pretty sure Fiji is lovely every time of year, but you just took a massive pay cut, remember?”

He shrugged, his eyes sparkling as he smiled at me. “Okay, so we’ll fly commercial. It’s not the end of the world.” His smile widened. “I’m kidding of course. Can you imagine?”

I laughed and shook my head. “I would argue but I suspect the flight to Fiji would be a lot nicer on a private plane, considering how long the trip is.”

It was nice to sit there with him in public, just two ordinary people having dinner together. Our relationship didn’t feel fragile or doomed anymore. Planning a trip didn’t feel foolish or like just a daydream.

It felt like the beginning of something that might actually last. Like maybe soon, dinners and trips wouldn’t be the only things we were planning anymore. Another little thrill shot through me.

“So, Fiji, huh?” I smiled even as my head shook. “Tell me more.”

Our waiter came back with our wine, and it was excellent. The food was even better, but the best part was Sullivan sitting across from me, his smile coming so much easier now that it was like the weight of the world wasn’t balanced permanently on his shoulders anymore.

After we finished our entrees, I swirled the wine in my glass, peering at him over the rim. “You’re suspiciously relaxed tonight.”

His dark blond, sandy eyebrows lifted. “Why is it suspicious?”

“You haven’t brought up work once. You’re not checking emails. You haven’t taken a single call from anyone. I’m starting to wonder if you’ve been replaced by a body double.”

“I fired the tyrant who lived rent-free inside me,” he said. “He had terrible people skills.”

I laughed, warmth spreading through my chest. “Good. He was the worst.”

He gave me a look so focused and attentive that it made my pulse skip. “You seem lighter too.”

“I am,” I admitted. “It turns out not having to pretend I can barely tolerate my boyfriend is freeing.”

“I’m very grateful you tolerate me publicly now.”

“I do more than just tolerate you,” I said, nudging his foot under the table. “I love you, Sullivan Crowne.”

His smile deepened. “I still can’t actually believe that’s true.”

“Well, you better believe it, because you’re stuck with me now.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing, but I’ve never been happier.”

My heart skipped a few beats. Our conversation drifted easily from there. We hopped from favorite vacation disasters to childhood stories. For once, there was no hospital between us, no policy debates, and no budgetary secrets lurking behind every sentence.

For the first time since the Bahamas, we could just be us and it was amazing. Halfway through dessert, however, nerves flared suddenly in my stomach again when I remembered I was supposed to ask him something tonight.

I set my fork down, watching him sip his coffee. “So, uh, I have a hypothetical question for you.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Those are usually dangerous.”

“How would you feel about meeting my parents?”

He choked on his coffee. “What?”

I laughed as he coughed into his napkin, his eyes watering. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he rasped, clearing his throat. “Just inhaled wrong.”