Page 247 of Josephine and Clay

I move beside her and hook my finger around hers. She glances down at our joined hands.

"Brandon can wait."

Her mouth softens, though she keeps her eyes on the water. "You don't know what he wants."

"Nope."

"Could be important."

"Could be."

That finally earns me a look. "What if it's important?"

I shrug. "Then it'll still be important tomorrow."

Her fingers tighten around mine.

Neither of us says anything else.

We stay where we are, shoulder to shoulder at the end of the dock while my phone sits silent in my pocket.

By the time we make it back to town, neither of us seems in a hurry to end the night.

I walk her to her door.

"You know," she says, unlocking the deadbolt, "your recovery would probably go faster if you stopped trying to prove things."

"What am I proving?"

"That you're invincible."

I consider that. "Counterpoint." Her eyebrow lifts. "I'm extremely handsome."

A laugh escapes her.

"There it is."

She tilts her head. "What?"

"My favorite sound."

She looks down briefly before meeting my eyes again. "You had a good time?"

I huff out a laugh. "You're seriously asking me that?"

"Answer the question."

"Josie, I would've had a good time sitting in a parking lot eating gas station sandwiches if you were there."

Her cheeks turn pink. "That was smooth."

"I know."

"You practiced."

"I absolutely did not."

The smile she gives me is worth every embarrassing second of honesty.