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‘That depends on your answer to my next question.’
‘Alright?’
‘How was your night last night?’
She smiles, dropping her head shyly. ‘Incredible. Everything you wanted me to realize, I did. And then some.’
I glance down at her hand, where my ring still sits. Eventually, I’ll sell it, and in the future, we’ll pick one out together if we get that far. And I plan on getting that far.
‘Did you, maybe, dump that other guy?’
She beams. ‘I did, just now, actually.’
She did it. My insides are exploding. ‘Was I maybe a part of the reason that happened?’
‘Oh, River. You were such a big, big, part.’
I can’t hold back my grin. ‘Jade Noelle Monroe,’ I say through the grin, getting her name right and everything. ‘You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever known. I adore everything about you. Never has someone “gotten” me like you have. I promise I’ll never ghost you because you’ve officially become my favorite person on the planet, and even thinking of living without you hurts my heart. I may send emojis occasionally, but never to avoid talking to you, only to make you smile. What do you say we pass on the unromantic friend thing, and you be my girlfriend?’
While she’s lost in the moment, I pull my phone from my pocket and text her least favorite things, emojis, in an attempt to prove she’ll never regret getting emojis from me.
Fall leaf, the number four, and a hand pointing my way from her side.
Her phone dings in her hand, and she smiles as she sees my name. ‘Fall, four…’ She translates their meanings aloud, hesitating at the last one. Her gaze lifts to me.
‘Me,’ I finish her sentence. ‘Fall for me? Because I’m already falling for you, gorgeous girl. Pretty please?’
The way she smiles fills me with so much joy. ‘I’d be an absolute idiot not to now, wouldn’t I?’
‘The biggest,’ I joke.
Her gaze never leaves mine. ‘You are cute, and I’m not going to lie, my heart would hurt too if you weren’t in my life. You’re also shockingly sexy in your underwear and fully clothed.’ She taps a finger to her bottom lip like she’s thinking about it. ‘This is a hard decision. I just got out of a relationship…’
I don’t wait for her to talk it out because I know she’s messing with me. Instead, I pull her to me and kiss her softly. Almost immediately, her arms are around my neck, pulling me closer. Her lips on mine are perfection. Soft, plump, and as sweet as she is. A tiny bit of tongue, just an introduction to what may come later, keeps things light and sends sparks through my entire body, head to toe.
After remembering we’ve got an audience, I break the kiss and hold her to me tightly.
‘You are easily the most beautiful girl in the world, and I wish I’d kissed you before Conner came into your life to save you from the heartache he caused.’
‘No need to wish it; you did.’ The way she smiles could light up the dark. It’s all I see. ‘Want to know my answer?’
‘I’m dying over here.’
‘Yes, River Jonathon Matthews; my heart didn’t hesitate at all when I saw you today, and you did exactly what I’d always hoped the man of my dreams would. Of course I’ll be your girlfriend, but only if you’ll be my boyfriend.’
I grin. ‘Count me in. I can’t believe you remembered my middle name after only reading it once on a now-deceased wedding invitation.’
‘It’s funny what you can remember when someone is important to you. Isn’t it?’
Her lips meet mine again, reminding me for the second time that no one has ever felt this right. She fits me perfectly in every way. She’s the girl I’ve been looking for, and finally, I’ve got her in my arms, and I won’t ever let her go.
‘Get a room! Gawd!’ Laney yells after we don’t come up for air with the second kiss quickly.
I grab my borrowed boombox and takeout bag. ‘Send your sister home because I didn’t bring enough to share…’ That’s a total lie; I could feed the whole complex with this pie. I just want to be alone with this woman. I pat the shopping bag over my shoulder. The one carrying the pie, wine, and non-poisonous take-out burgers from Jovi’s, because why the hell not? I realized this woman might be something extraordinary at a burger truck, and as ridiculous as that may sound, it will make the best story one day.
‘I’m out. Wear a raincoat, you weirdo!’ Laney says in true Laney style as she exits the courtyard.
‘Let’s go have some pie, girlfriend. This time, I mean that in the most unplatonic way ever.’
