He swayed his head. “I was in the area and wanted to say hi.”
She waved. “Hi.”
He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, hugged her tightly, and kissed the side of her face. “Hi.”
She grinned at him after he released her. “Do I need to bring anything?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Just your lovely self.”
“All righty then.”
He gazed at her for a moment, smiling absently, then drew in his breath and exhaled. “Well, I guess I should get going.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.”
He leaned forward and pecked her lips before managing to tear himself away. “Bye, sweetheart.”
He stepped out and started to close the door behind him.
“Nick.”
He poked his head back inside. “Yeah?”
She tilted her head as she continued to grin. “I’m glad you came by. I missed your face.”
He smiled. “I missed your face too.”
* * *
“Iwore something cute for you,” Sammie mentioned casually on the drive to his parents’ house.
His eyes shifted slightly as he silently cursed his lack of observation.
You idiot, you were supposed to compliment her outfit.
He glanced at her as he smiled. “You look beautiful. Red’s a great color on you.”
She snickered. “I don’t mean that.”
He tried again. “Your hair’s getting longer too. I like it.”
She reached up to tousle her locks. “Really? I’m kind of liking it too. I’ve never had my hair this much past my shoulders before.”
“It looks great. It’s very—”
Don’t say sexy. Say something classy.
“— elegant.”
“Elegant? You think?”
“Absolutely. You’re classic, Sammie.”
She simpered as she placed her hand on top of his. “Thank you. But I wasn’t talking about my hair either.”
He scanned her appearance in his peripheral vision as he pulled into his parents’ driveway. “New jeans.”
“Nope,” she replied mischievously. “Under those.”
