I thought I was stealth enough to not wake him up, but after our photoshoot begins, he pokes his head out.
“What’s going on?” he asks groggily. I don’t blame him for being confused. Kadesha has the churro-printed sling draped over her head while she uses the bottom to hold him up. It’s a full backdrop. The sunglasses hang off his tiny little face and he looks exactly like the diva he is.
We all laugh at Gavin’s expression, and I finally put the camera down.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, walking over to him.
“All better.” He tucks some hair behind my ear and kisses my nose. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower. Don’t leave, okay?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
The photoshoot continues as we find all sorts of props for Churro to pose with. Gabby glares at me when I wrap him in a tortilla but apologizes when she sees how cute the photos are. Gavin even joins us after his shower and lets me get some incredible photos of Churro resting on his head.
As I snap each one, I think I might never be able to have Gavin over again. My wall is about to be covered in photos of his face.
We order a pizza for dinner. Every time I mention leaving, all three of them encourage me not to go. It’s starting to feel like I couldn’t outstay my welcome if I tried.
We finally get into bed a little after eleven, Gavin promising he’ll let me go home in the morning.
“I feel like I completely wasted the last twenty-four hours I had with you. I need tonight at the very least.”
“Youhad a four-hour nap,” I reply. “Don’t expect another all-nighter.”
“That’s okay.” He kisses me softly and dips his head, pressing his mouth to my jaw, then my neck. “I kind of like doing all the work.” It’s the last thing he says before expertly sliding off all my clothes.
“Thank you,”he says a few moments after we finish. I roll over to face him.
“You don’t have to thank me, Scottie. That was mutually beneficial.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, but that’s not what I was thanking you for, beautiful.”
“Oh.”
He wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me close again. His hand wanders up my back and over my shoulder until he has my face in his palm.
“You took care of me today. No one ever takes care of me.”
“I barely?—”
“You know it’s not easy for me to let my guard down. Just let me thank you.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“And about last night…”
I wait for him to finish the thought as I listen to my heart beat like a woodpecker.He’s taking it back. He didn’t mean it. I humiliated myself by responding the way I did. I love you a little? Who the hell says something like that?
“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain. This is still so new and we’re figuring things out. We can just forget we ever said anything at all. Really, it’s no big deal.”
“Sparkles?”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve really got to stop assuming you know what I’m about to say.”
“Oh.” Oh no, could it be worse than I thought?
His hand reaches out to cradle my face, his eyes roaming over each of my features.
