Page 149 of A Matter of Time

“And what’d he say when you told him you were gonna stay with me?”

“I just told him I had to see where this thing with you was gonna go.”

He nodded. “You didn’t tell him we were dating?”

“Is that what we’re doing?”

“I dunno.”

“We’re just sort of hanging out, right?”

“We’re doin’ more than that.”

“Are we?”

We shared a long look before I smiled wide.

“J—”

“I packed a bag like you asked. Tomorrow morning I’ll split so you can have some time to yourself, but for now let’s just say we⁠—”

He reached across the table and put a hand over mine. “Stop talking.”

I grinned at him. “Rude, but okay.”

“Thank you for cooking,” he murmured. “This is amazing.”

“Compliments will get you everything,” I said with a sigh.

His smile made his eyes glint.

I very much enjoyed watching him eat and thought, as I sat there across from him, having dinner, how incredible it would be if this was my future.

After a few minutes he said my name, and when I looked up, he was leaning his chin on his hand.

“What?”

“I can’t let you go home.”

I stared into his smoky-blue eyes. “Oh no?”

“No.”

“Eat some of your salad,” I ordered him.

“Yes, baby.”

When I got up to do the dishes, he helped me clear the table. He dried everything I washed and put the dishes away. While I was replacing the wildflowers in a vase on his dining table, he walked back in from taking out the garbage. He was on the phone, and as far as I could tell he was agreeing to something.

“So?” I asked as soon as he hung up.

“I completely forgot that tonight’s Dom’s birthday. Everyone’s at his place already.”

“Oh.” I nodded. “Then you should go.”

“You gotta come with me.”

My stomach rolled over. “No.”