We kiss until we both pull back to drag in some much-needed oxygen.
“I liked that hello a lot more,” she says, grinning up at me.
“Me too,” I whisper because that’s all I can get out right now with how hard my heart is still pounding against my rib cage.
Why can’t I kiss you like that every day, in front of whoever is around to see? Why can’t you just be mine?
One of her hands skims down over my chest. “I kind of like you all sweaty like this,” she says, a wicked look in her eyes.
I gaze back with the same level of wickedness. “You’ve seen me sweatier than this plenty of times, love.”
She cocks her head to the side in acknowledgment. “Not when you’re on a run, though.”
“So, you’re saying I’m more attractive when I’m out for a run than when I’m fucking your brains out?”
She snorts. “I stand corrected. The latter is much hotter.”
I kiss her temple. “That’s what I thought.”
One of the dogs starts barking. She groans, resting her forehead against my chest. “Back to reality, I guess,” she mumbles against the fabric of my shirt.
I wedge my arms between her and the tree, holding her tightly against my chest. “Give me just two more minutes. Okay?”
Her whole body relaxes as she leans into me. “Okay,” she sighs.
Neither of us says a word. We just stand there holding each other. I can feel her chest rising and falling with each breath.
I have no way of knowing when two minutes have actually passed, but eventually I squeeze her a little tighter for a beat, then let my arms fall away.
She looks lighter when she gazes up at me. “I think I needed that hug more than I realized,” she says.
I did too, love. More than you know.
I slide my hand into hers, walking back to where the dogs are waiting.
Far too quickly, we’re standing back on the path. I have to fight every instinct raging inside my body to lean in and give her one final kiss before we part ways.
She gives me a loaded smile, like she might just know what I’m thinking.
“Bye, stud. Have a good rest of your run.”
“Bye, love. Text me when you get back safely.”
With a nod, she turns around and walks away. I wait until she’s disappeared from view down the hill I ran up earlier. Only then do I turn around and continue my run.
All I can think about is what I called her two years ago.Love. Little did I know it would come to ring truer than any other word that’s ever left my mouth.
For the first time, I think I actually understand how my sister’s relationship works. They’re all happy being with her because they love her enough to make anything work.
I know with the way my heart is consumed by her, I would do pretty much anything to make things real between us because I never want to say a real goodbye to her.
Saying goodbye when I know I’ll see her soon is hard enough as it is.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Tucker
“Boo,”a familiar female voice comes from behind me as her hand presses against the small of my back.
