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“No, you’re not.”
I laughed and threw my arm around her shoulders, my new slap bracelet shining under the fluorescent lights above. “You’re right, I’m not.”
Back at my house, Gemma parked her car and twisted in her seat. “So, what do you think of my little battery-powered car?”
“Not bad. It’s faster than my Hot Wheels.”
She pinned me with one of her you’re-about-to-be-lectured stares. “Electric cars emit fifty-percent less carbon dioxide in their lifetimes than those that run on gas.”
“Yeah, but electric cars still operate on lithium batteries, which account for something like thirty percent of emissions when they’re made.”
She tossed her hand in the air. “It still comes out in the negative column if you think about how much less carbon would be produced if every automaker switched over.”
“It’s negligible.”
“You’re an engineer,” she said accusatorially. “Come up with a new way of powering my car!”
I hated to state the obvious, but… “Even if I did, it still wouldn’t do anything to change the handful of companies responsible for the majority of emissions.”
“It’s little changes, but if everyone made these little changes, we could come together to push for bigger ones.” When she swiped her palm over her forehead, I caught sight of her tattoo. “You can’t be so nihilistic. Why are you smiling?”
I took hold of her arm and smoothed my thumb over the dragon. “This.”
“I hate you for it.”
“I know,” I said, closing the gap between us, gliding my fingers up her cheek and into her hair. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into my palm, breathing evenly through open, inviting lips. “So pretty,” I said, then kissed her.
She grabbed at my sweater, her fingers groping for purchase at my shoulders, and when I teased her with nibbles of her exquisite lower lip, she chased my mouth. She craved this as much as I did, her tongue searching for mine. When I finally gave it to her, she moaned, and I wanted to gobble up all her little noises.
In the beginning, kisses were usually about finding a rhythm and learning what each other liked, but with Gemma, each kiss was as if we’d done it hundreds of times before. Like my whole life was only practice for this moment, for these kisses with this woman.
Curling my palm around the bottom of her throat, I kissed down her chin and across her jaw, her mouth close to my ear so I could hear her panting breaths. I smiled against her cheek then backed away. “I have to go to this big wedding tomorrow, and I don’t have a date. You wouldn’t know anyone who might be interested, would you?”
A slow smile etched across her face. “Maybe.”
“Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I won’t be the one in white,” she said coyly, and I kissed her one more time before exiting the car. I swept my thumb over my mouth, savoring the feel and taste of her lips on mine.
Yes, I was in. I was all in.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Gem
It was unseasonably warm for being the last day of September. The sun had not yet set but was low enough to provide shade over the lawn. The surrounding trees of green, brown, and yellow formed an enclave for the wedding ceremony.
I peeked out from where my mom and I were hidden behind a wall to spy Frank and Jason stationed under a canopy of cream linen next to the officiant. Frank swiped at his forehead with a handkerchief then fidgeted with his calla lily boutonnière, while Jason stood with his hands casually tucked in his pockets, saying something that earned a laugh and back pat from Frank.
“Are we ready?” The wedding planner asked, interrupting my ogling of perfection in a tux.
Mom turned to me, a huge smile on her face. “What do you think, Gemmie?”
I didn’t think I’d ever seen her so full of joy. “You’re glowing.”
Her cheeks pinked, eyes slightly wet, and she grabbed hold of my hand, towing me closer to her. “I know you and I don’t always see eye to eye, and you haven’t always understood the decisions I’ve made, but you have to know, I did everything with you in mind.”
“Mom, I—”
