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“Is it food?” I ask. He chuckles.
“You’ll see.”
I pull away slightly, just enough that I can stare up at him while remaining in his arms. I love looking at Baxter Branson. He’s sharp angles and steely stares on the surface but has a gooey marshmallowy heart of gold underneath. Well, for those he loves he does, anyway.
“What?” he asks when I fail to quit staring long past the social norms of being polite.
“I love your face.”
He gives me a look that says I’m crazy.
“Thank you?”
“It’s a compliment, yes,” I say. “And you know that I love you, but I just wanted to say I really really love your face too.”
I have no idea what I’m saying, or if he can read the meaning or the intent behind my words. I’ve never been backwards in coming forwards but there’s something so fragile and new in my relationship with Baxter that makes me hesitate. For four years he’s been my anchor, best friend, saviour. And now he’s my…what? We’re clearly mad for each other but we’ve still not...sealed the deal so to speak. And I want to. I really really want to experience everything the enigma that is Baxter Branson has to offer.
“You’re still staring.”
“You’re still gorgeous,” I say with a smirk. Inside I’m screaming ‘just kiss me already! Rip my goddamn clothes off and do it!’...although perhaps standing in the courtroom car park is not the best place to finally get it on.
Instead I settle for a kiss, reaching up in my tiptoes to cup his chiselled jawline in my hand. I kiss him softly, sweetly, but I linger hoping that he’ll take the hint and come back for more.
“We should get back,” he says reluctantly. How ridiculous that I’m equally disappointed by his rejection as the result of our trip out today. My hurt obviously registers on my face because he grabs my ass and pulls me into him roughly with a growl.
“I am not risking Nix’s future for a fuck in a car park, but I swear to god if you kiss me like that again, I will snap and we’ll both be going to hell. Or prison.”
I give him a small smile and climb into the car. The kiss wasn’t even anything special so his words make no sense.
“You kissed me like you love me,” he says, reading my confusion. “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”
I reach over and take his hand in mine, glad that he drives an automatic.
“I didn’t kiss you like I love you. I kissed you with love because my heart is bursting with everything I feel for you. I told you: I love your face.”
A slow genuine smile stretches across his face. He says nothing, starting the engine and beginning the short drive home, but that smile stays on his face the entire way and my chest feels warm.
***
When we get back to the house it’s quiet. I find it hard to believe that everyone would still be in bed but when I check the lounge they’re all in there watching a film under blankets in their PJs still. Well, Nix is wearing PJs, the guys are all wearing sweats and T-shirts. They realised pretty early on that walking around in just their boxers wasn’t really an option with Nix’s curiosity. I’m not complaining though, the view still looks great.
“Mummy! You’re back!” Phoenix grins at me but doesn’t move from her spot on the sofa. I don’t blame her, I can spy a glass of juice and a plate of cookies nearby, and an honest to god tiara on her head. She has these guys wrapped so far around her little finger they probably can’t even see straight.
“Hey baby, yes we’re back. What are you watching?” I ask, even though I can very clearly see that she’s watching her favourite film for the millionth time since Rebel got Disney+.
“Frozen! The new one!”
“Is it good?”
“Yeah!” She yells at the same time as Jax and Rebel complain “no”.
“Thorn likes it!” she insists, like that somehow makes it better. He has horribly awesome taste in films.
“Ace?” I check with the impartial member of the good.
“Not bad. First better. Song horrible.”
“Do you want to watch with us mummy?”
