“Hmmm. You drive a hard bargain.” He plants a peck to the tip of my nose. “Deal.”
Hand in hand, he smiles the whole way to the car and it’s as endearing as it is arrogant.
“What are you so smiley about?”
He curves an arm over my shoulder. “I like thinking about you staying with me. It feels very…” He shrugs, searching for the word.
“Domestic?”
“Yeah.” He opens the passenger door for me. “Is that weird?”
Others may say so. To the outside world, Connor and I are shiny, brand new. But I feel everything he does and I know it’s because we have more than what meets the eye. A history that nobody else knows about. A connection that’s been to hell and back behind the curtain.
I shake my head. “Is it weird that it’s not weird?”
He searches my face, chin atop his forearms resting on the doorframe. “Nothing about imagining a life with you feels weird.”
Flutters swarm in my chest and my heart soars, but I know serious relationships and commitment have been a sore spot for him in the past. I can’t help but ask, “Does that scare you?”
He runs my braid between his fingers, eyes cast down on theaction. I step into his touch, the door a barrier between us, as I wait for his response.
“For the first time in my life, no.” Our gazes meet. “Does it scare you?”
“No,” I say, “but, you know, there are still things we need to figure out.” His eyes drop back to the hand twirling my hair and he takes a deep breath. “Like, how I’m going back to New?—”
“I know,” he cuts me off, moving around the door to bring his lips to my forehead. “But not today.”
Not today, but soon. I wrap my arms around his waist and my body warms by the second in his embrace. Or maybe it’s this parking garage and the fact that we aren’t inside his sub-zero apartment anymore.
“Why is it sofriggin’hot?”
He laughs as he open-palms my face and pushes me into the passenger seat.
On the wayto the hospital, Connor and I discuss plans for how to tell my family, not only about meeting my biological family, but also about us.
Thanks to the time delay, my parents’ rebooked flight out of Italy doesn’t leave for another few hours and with their lengthy flight schedule and subsequent jet lag, it’ll be a couple days before we see them. Not to mention, Drew has been through a lot over the past several days.
Later this week, I figure, maybe after Reagan is cleared to go home, we can find a time to be together and I’ll tell them about Arizona.
I suggested we plan something separate with Drew so that we can break the news to him together about us, but Connor insisted that he wanted to be the one to tell him. Knowing the guilt he’s held on to all these years, I can respect his wishes and take a step back in that conversation.
After a quick coffee stop for a decent morning pick-me up for everyone, we’re on the elevator up to Reagan’s floor.
“We need to discuss ground rules,” I say.
“Ground rules?”
“For when we’re around people who don’t know about us.”
“Seems pretty cut and dry to me, but carry on,” he retorts with a grin.
“No touching.”
“There will be no putting of my hands upon you. Got it.” He salutes like a good little soldier.
“Good. And no?—”
“Technical question,” he interrupts. “What if you’re choking or otherwise in need of assistance? Is the Heimlich permissible?” I blink. “Chest compressions?” I blink twice. “Mouth to mouth?”
