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Goose bumps run along my leg when he runs his hand down it.
He smacks a kiss on my cheek before sliding out of bed and grabbing our bowls. “Want to do dinner tonight?”
I bite into the edge of my lip. “It’s our mandatory monthly dinner at my parents’ house.” I pause to take a deep breath. “If you’re hungry, you can tag along.”
He grins. “You asking me to meet the parents, Dyson?” The bowls clank when they hit the sink. He cleans them and starts tracking down his clothes around the loft.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Oh, shove it. Pretty sure you’ve met the parents.”
He sits on the side of the bed, next to me. “So, are we going to do this? Try again?”
That’s the question of the damn year.
“I mean … I don’t know.” I wipe the sleep from my eyes. “What happened last night terrifies me but in a good way, if that makes sense?”
“As much as it doesn’t, I understand because I feel the same way.” His face softens. “But, what I said last night about being a different man, I wasn’t lying. It wasn’t a ploy to keep you away from me. I am, Lauren.”
“I know you have … history, what with having an ex-wife locked up and all.”And secrets. You have secrets. A shit ton of secrets.I’ll save that conversation for another day. “And, uh … more.”
He stands and starts to get dressed. “Yes, more.”
I break our eye contact and start playing with the blanket, hoping my words sound comforting. “Do you think you’ll eventually tell me sooner or later?”
His gaze is downcast.
“I’m not asking you to spill out your past right now, but I’d like to understand what you’re going through. Maybe I can help.”
“We’ll see.” He kisses the top of my head. “Let’s take things slowly, okay? You might come to the conclusion that you can’t stand my ass anymore.”
“And you might conclude that you actuallycanstand me.”
“Already figuring that one out, babe.”
My phone beeps with a message, and I snag it from the nightstand to see Willow’s alert that they’re about to pull into the driveway. I jump out of bed as if it suddenly caught fire and start throwing clothes on.
Gage follows me into the bathroom and leans against the wall, hands sliding into the pockets of his pants, while I start brushing my teeth. “About dinner tonight.”
I spit out my toothpaste and rinse my mouth before answering—with an inner fear of rejection—“You know what? Don’t worry about it. It’s too early for something that serious.”
He takes a step forward and wraps his arms around my waist, lightly pushing into me. “Ask Mama Barnes if there’s anything I need to bring.” His lips go to my cheek, causing me to blush as he kisses it. “I’ll be there.”
My cheeseball grin has returned as I look at him in the mirror. “Really?”
“Really.” He whips me around and clasps my hands in his, holding them between us. “Let’s see where this goes.”
“I like that plan.”
My phone fires off again, and I pull away to grab it.
Willow: Coming up! Any exes in the building I should know about?
“Oh shit,” I hiss.
“Oh shit what?” Gage questions.
“Dallas and Willow are here.”
He scratches his stubble-covered cheek. “That a problem? I thought you had plans with them.”
