Page 36 of Honey Sunshine

“Well, I mean, I thought it was just me.”

“Oh you did, huh?”

“I just thought you were only going through the motions, you know, preparing us for the dinner with your family... I don’t know, something along those lines,” I mutter, breaking my gaze from his to stare at my pancakes. Now I feel self-conscious and awkward, unsure what to say next to fill the silence.

He reaches his hand outward, placing it right on top of mine. “Look at me, please?”

“Mm,” I grumble, meekly looking upward.

“Zach, that’s thedumbestthing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth. Frankly, this was the most fun week I’ve had as well—minus the cringing to death at my parents,” he answers, intertwining and squeezing our fingers. “In fact, I was wondering...”

“Wondering what?” I prompt when Harvey trails off.

“If we could keep the boyfriend thing going?”

He still wants us to continue being fake boyfriends? My confusion must be evident on my face because he goes on to clarify.

“Only this time, I was hoping it’d be official.”

Everything goes completely still, and I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“Official.”

“Yes.”

“Official as inofficial.”

Harvey nods as a hopeful grin spreads across his face.

“As in date me. Be my boyfriend,officially.” I blink in disbelief.

He laughs and brings the back of my hand to his lips, planting a kiss there. “Yes.”

Oh my god.

“I know it’s early. Nine days to be exact. We barely just met, but this feels so damn right that I don’t want it to end. Hell, I’dbe a fool to watch you walk out that door without letting you know how I feel, especially after what we had last night.”

I’m speechless. Speechless and shaken by his confession, but more from the shock that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way about us. A thousand questions come to mind, but they fade just as quickly as I lose myself in those shining blue eyes of his that seem to be pleading with me to say yes, reassuring me that it won’t end up the way it did with my ex.

“Harvey . . .”

His grip tightens on my hand. “Yes?”

“Yes.”

“God, Zach.”

I don’t remember how I ended up on his lap in a flash, or when we started kissing, but it feels so damn right.Wefeel right.

“Thank you, Honey,” he breathes against my lips. “I’m going to be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had. Hell, I am going to marry you.”

He promptly freezes, eyes widening at the realization of what he just said. It’s then I see another side of him, one I’ve never seen before, completely flustered as he stammers, “I... I mean not now... no, no, uh... but maybe somewhere down the line if... if you want and all goes well and I... I’m not saying it won’t, but...”

God, he’s adorable. I squeeze his hands before I let him embarrass himself further. If he can save me from embarrassment, I can return the favor.

“Yeah, I’d like that a lot. Dating with the intent to marry.”

The goofiest, silliest grin appears on his face, which I know matches mine perfectly.

“You’re fucking amazing,” he says, looking at me in awe.

“And you, Sunshine. You’re incredible.” My arms snake around his neck. “You have to promise to make me lunch at least twice a week.”

Harvey chuckles. “Of course. Anything for you.”

And with that, he leans over to seal our new deal with a kiss that promises good things to come.

The End.