“I was just curious what happened when everyone first got back to the house. We went outside to give you privacy, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say my curiosity has been killing me all night.”
I snuggle against him and yawn again. “It wasn’t very dramatic. Loren apologized to everyone—which was actually a bit of a shock. Like…immediately, she just launched into it. She admitted to being on edge lately because of the whole wedding date thing and then told us about the bombshell her parents dropped on her.”
He nods.
“Luckily, she didn’t go into a whole lot of detail or dominate the conversation, but she admitted that she’s been frustrated for a while with Mike’s lack of commitment to setting a date.”
Another nod.
“Then Roxie apologized for leaving the way she did and how it’s becoming a dangerous coping method for her and how the whole thing made her realize that she needs to start therapy. Counseling. She wants her life back and this whole argument was the push she needed.”
“Okay, so…it wasn’t all bad, then.”
“I apologized for being so distant and wrapped up in my career. Honestly, no one understood how there’s a lot of pressure on me. I don’t get a salary. If I don’t write, I don’t get paid. If my books don’t sell, I don’t get paid. So…it’s a lot, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a life.”
He kisses my forehead, and I love that tender gesture.
“And Vanessa…” I sigh. “She’s been trying to hold it together for everyone, and Zayne was there to listen whenever she needed to vent and didn’t think she could to any of us. This isn’t a fling for them or just a casual hookup.”
“They’ve always made sense to me,” he says. “Like…whenever we would hang out, they just gravitated toward each other, but I never saw the signs that it turned romantic. I think they’d make a great couple—like moving forward with marriage and kids and whatnot.”
“I think that’s what she wants too, but they’re taking it slow.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize this might be my opening to our own situation.
“I told her that taking it slow is overrated,” I tell him and am relieved when he softly laughs. “Personally, I’m a big fan of jumping in.”
Sebastian’s response is to hold me a little tighter and I sigh happily.
“They’ve known each other for years and I get being cautious because they don’t want to jeopardize their friendship, but…I don’t know…everyone’s different, I guess.” I glance up at him. “Do you think we should worry about that?”
“No.” It’s like he doesn’t even need to think about it. “Like you said, everyone’s different. Every relationship is unique. I know that Zayne apparently had a thing for her when you were all in high school, so he’s been biding his time.” Another forehead kiss. “You and me? We felt the connection immediately and we went with it. And I’m really glad we did.”
“Me too.”
I hug him, loving the warmth of his body against mine. Tonight, it’s not about anything sexual. This is just about enjoying the closeness.
“I do envy them though,” I admit.
“How come?”
“Because when this trip is over, they get to go home and still see each other. We won’t.”
“I know,” he replies gruffly. “But we’re going to work on that.”
“I don’t see how. You travel so much for work and I’m in Seattle…” I pause briefly before amending. “But I’m thinking about moving.”
Now he pulls back and looks at me. “You are? For real?”
I nod. “For real. Seattle was never home. I told you I don’t know where home is anymore, but I know that’s not it.”
“So…you’d be willing to maybe…come back to North Carolina?”
My heart’s racing because this is it. The moment of truth, and I have to wonder if I’m crazy to be making such a bold admission after knowing this man for only a week. But I still nod confidently, even though my voice trembles as I say, “I am.”
Then he’s kissing me—rolling me beneath him like this is the greatest news he’s ever received. But I kiss him back with equal enthusiasm because his response is the greatest response I’ve ever received.
Ugh…love is making me stupid.
