“Just wondering how you’re going to be with me gone.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got work all week and then I’m decorating my place.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, I’ve already covered all the furniture. For some of the fun I’m going to paint it pink, I think. I’m not sure. Maybe white or cream. I quite like cream. I’ll barely notice you’re gone.”
“Oh, you little vixen, you’ll notice.”
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“You’re right. For a couple of seconds maybe,” she said. “Then I’ll watch a good-looking guy on the news and you’ll be the furthest thing from my mind.”
“You know you’re not kidding anyone,” he said.
Taking her hand, he walked them away from the group toward the back of the clubhouse where it was quiet so they could think.
“What’s wrong, Pie?” she asked.
“We can’t keep putting this off.”
She sighed. “There’s not a lot to talk about.”
“I don’t want you to help me find Miss Right—”
“Pie—”
“No, I want you to hear me out. I know that a lot of people don’t like to hear the truth, but I’m being open with you. I’ve never been honest with anyone else in my life, Lindsey. I know you’re scared. These feelings we have for each other are fucking scary.”
“Who says I have them?” she asked.
“Don’t. Don’t say stuff like that that you don’t mean. You and I are not the kind to lie to each other. I know you have feelings for me and that you’re terrified, and I get that. I’m scared too.” He took her wineglass and put it down on the floor along with his bottle of beer.
He cupped her face, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. She didn’t push him away or tell him to stop, so he stared into her eyes. They were so beautiful and blue. They made him think of a warm summer sky. So clear that he could stare into them all day long.
“If you do this, it could change something between us.”
“I hope I do because I don’t want to carry on pretending like this is never going to happen. I want it to happen. I need it to happen.”
“Did you ever really want a woman of your own?”
“Yes. I never misled you. These feelings, they were not supposed to happen. I wasn’t trying to make this about me or anything like that. Fuck. This was about the two of us. I don’t know when it happened or how it did, only that I just loved having you around. How you’d come in and the moment I saw you, you’d brighten my whole fucking day. That’s how important you were. I’d look forward to having you around. The other night with that woman. That’s every man’s fucking dream right there. It wasn’t mine. I was so angry and jealous that she got to kiss you first, that she got to feel that pretty pussy. When it comes to you, Lindsey, I can’t control myself. I want everything. I need everything. I know this is asking a lot after what you’ve been through, but when I get back from this trip, I don’t want to hide anymore. I refuse to.”
He ran his thumb across her lip.
“I want us to try.”
“You want to fuck?”
“No. Not just that. I want us to fuck and party, and have fun, but I also want to take you on a date.”
“A date?”
“Yes, a date. To a nice restaurant where I were a suit and you wear that red cocktail dress that I saw hanging up in your closet.”
“Oh.”
“You know the one I mean. You’ve seen it.” He’d gotten hard just looking at it and he’d not even seen it on her. It was one of those dresses that was like a second skin, molding to the shape of the woman, enhancing curvy hips, full thighs, and large tits.
“I wasn’t going to wear that.”
“Now you are. Say yes, Lindsey. Don’t be afraid. I’ll be here for you, and you don’t have to ever wonder again.”
“I’m scared. You’re one of my best friends.”
“Then let’s not give ourselves the chance to doubt. One date, when I get back. Give me that chance.”
“Okay. One date.”
“I look forward to it.” Tilting her head back, Pie knew he’d win her over. He knew exactly how a perfect date should go between them seeing as he knew her. They were alike in a lot of ways, and there was no chance of him losing, not when so much was at stake.
****
“What do you think the date is going to be like?” Kasey asked.
“I don’t know.” She held the rattle toy in front of Liam. The little boy giggled and kept reaching out for them.
Lindsey smiled at the little boy, loving his cuteness all over again.
“Are you excited about going on a date? It has been a long time since you went on one.”