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“It had great food but no atmosphere.”
She shook her head, the corners of her mouth turning up. It wasn’t a laugh, but it was something.
As she put things in the cart, he kept going. “What did the ocean say to the other ocean?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, what?”
“Nothing, it just waved.”
This time she chuckled.
“You heard the rumor going around about butter?”
Brynn smiled. “No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“Ah, never mind. I shouldn’t spread it.”
Brynn’s shoulders shook up and down as she stifled a giggle and placed the last item they needed in the cart. She steered it towards the checkout. He emptied the contents onto the belt while they waited their turn.
Aaron leaned in towards her ear, resting his hands on either side of her hips. “What do you get from a pampered cow?”
“What?”
“Spoiled milk.”
She bit her lip as the checkout woman greeted them. Aaron slid his card through the reader. He’d accept her cash for half later. He didn’t like having to split groceries like this, but if it was what she needed, he’d do it.
He pushed the cart to the car and unloaded the grocery bags in the trunk before joining Brynn in the front. He turned the ignition on. Brynn shivered and placed her hand over the vent. He turned the heat up a little—she seemed to run much colder than he did.
Aaron tried again. “You know, it was so cold in D.C. the other day, I saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets.”
Brynn was silent for a moment before she turned towards him, then burst into laughter.
He beamed as her light rapture tumbled out of her. His breath caught at the full smile lighting up her face. “So you like political jokes?”
She shook her head, clutching her belly as she took a deep breath and let it out. “No, but of all the things I’ve learned about you, silly jokes were not something I expected.”
“That’s what’s so funny? My take at humor? Should I be insulted?” he teased.
She met his gaze. “This whole thing is so crazy it’s hilarious. I married a stranger who treats me better than I ever expected. The same man that kisses me in public to convince old ladies we married for love and are not conning the insurance agency so I can get my transgender daughter the basic care she needs. And now, you try and distract me from my embarrassment over said kiss with silly jokes. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I think I’ve cried enough in my life, so laughter it is.” She sniffed. “I’m sorry. I think I’m losing it.”
He reached out his hand, taking hers and rubbing his thumb across her soft flesh. “Hey. This has been a lot. It’s completely normal to be overwhelmed.”
“This is what I mean. You’re too perfect.”
His eyebrow rose. “Is there such a thing as too perfect?”
She blinked up at him, her eyes watery. “I didn’t think so until I met you.”
His heart lurched. “I have a confession to make.”
Her brows drew together. “Oh?”
“I didn’t tell you the jokes to distract you from embarrassment, though that would have been the honorable thing to do. My reasons were purely selfish.”
“How so?” She turned towards him.
“I wondered what it would take to make you laugh like you just did. I wanted to hear the sound of pure joy as it tumbled from your mouth.” He reached out and pressed his thumb to her lips as they parted on a gasp. “And I wanted to see how much more beautiful a full-blown smile on your face made you.”
