Page 138 of Big Dill

“Hey,” I say, brushing them away with my thumb. “What’s wrong?”

Her voice breaks. “You did this? For me?”

“Yes,” I say gently. “But not just me. We all did this for you. I know it’s not Paris, or France, or Toronto or New York, but⁠—”

“But it’s everything,” she whispers.

Laughter erupts from the court as people prance around, clearly having the time of their lives, until Mr. Cheeseman emerges wearing spandex yoga shorts that are both too tight and far too short.

“Oh, God,” she murmurs, leaning into me. “Does he know those are women’s?”

“I think they might have been running low,” I explain. “And yeah, I could’ve gone my whole life without seeing that.”

She laughs, and as the warmth wraps around me the love I feel for her tightens in my chest.

“But I really appreciate his support,” she adds.

“Jami.” She turns to face me. “I wanted you to see what you built here,” I say. “What you mean to these people? The lengths everyone went to just to make you feel like this is your home.”

“Home,” she murmurs, her gaze sweeping the room.

“I want you here with me, Jami.” My voice is steady, even though my heart is anything but. “It has to be your decision, but I really, really want you to tell me you want that too.”

She stands. “I don’t want to tell you that, Brody.”

The air rushes out of my lungs. My heart drops hard as I force myself to stand, every muscle stiff. I swallow. “Okay,” I say carefully. “I understand⁠—”

She presses a finger to my lips, stopping me cold. “I’d rather show you.”

Then she’s in my arms, kissing me with warmth and certainty, like she’s been holding this back just as long as I have. I laugh as I pull her close and spin her around, the sound echoing off the walls until laughter from our family and friends bubbles up around us, wrapping us in it.

When I finally set her down, we’re both breathless and grinning. She looks up at me.

“I have a confession.”

I take a cautious step back. “What?”

She pokes my chest. “I was coming back here to fight for you.”

My throat tightens. “Really?” I laugh, unable to help myself. “So you’re saying I didn’t have to do any of this?”

“Nope.” There’s a teasing glint in her eyes. “But I sure appreciate it.” Then she softens, blinking up at me. “Honestly, Brody… I wasn’t even sure you’d talk to me after I made assumptions and ran away.”

I smile. “I’d like to be honest now too, Little Birdie.” She tilts her head, waiting. “Talking is the last thing I want to do with you right now.”

“Oh.” She blinks innocently. “What on earth do you have in mind?”

I gesture toward the door. “Maybe we could go back to your place. To, you know…”

She arches a brow. “You have something else to show me, Brody?”

“Hell yeah, I do.”

“Is it that there’s zero chemistry between us?” she asks, biting back a grin as she tries to crinkle her nose in disgust. “That I’d rather kiss a cod?”

I arch a brow and play along. “Less sloppy. Probably warmer.”

“Big Dill.”