Alec wraps his arm around my waist and kisses me back. “We could go. To Cape Cod, I mean. And the lobster shack.” A thoughtful expression moves across his face. “Maybe this summer we could go. Make a vacation out of it.”
Hope flares bright. “I’d like that.”
His features grow serious. “I know that’s a ways off. And I’m not trying to rush things. I guess… when Ithink about next summer, I picture spending it with you.”
Turning to face him, I loop my arms around him and tuck my head under his chin. “I know you’re not trying to rush things. But when I think about next summer, I want to spend it with you, too.”
Alec presses his lips to the top of my head. His tone is thoughtful as he says, “I never thought about a future with a woman before. Not like this. Planning trips and spending holidays together…”
My acrobatic heart flips. “Holidays?”
I tilt my head back just in time to spot two pink smudges color his cheeks. “Well. We always have a special Thanksgiving dinner at Enzo’s place. The whole team goes, plus any friends who want to join us. It’s really low key, we just hang out and eat, play games, watch football…”
“That sounds fun.” For the last three Thanksgivings, I’ve gone into Burlington to volunteer at a soup kitchen. And then I come home to eat a frozen turkey dinner and playTenebris Veilwith all the other people who don’t have a family to spend the day with. But spending Thanksgiving with Alec and his friends sounds infinitely better.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” he assures me. “We still have over a month to go. But—” His gaze softens. “I’d really like it if you came.”
Winter’s words jump to the forefront of my mind again.
Go with your heart.
And what is my heart saying?
“I would really like to go.” Holding his gaze, I add, “I haven’t spent Thanksgiving with anyone since I moved here. But… I’d really like to spend it with you.”
Alec stares at me. Emotion darkens his eyes.“Haze.”
Nerves jitter in my stomach. “There’s something else I’d really like.”
“What?”
“Well. Two things, really.”
Alec strokes my cheek. “What? Anything you want, I’ll do my best to get it for you.”
My heart lodges in my throat. But I push past the fear and say it, anyway. “I’d like to call you my boyfriend. Instead of just a guy I’m dating. Because… it feels like more than just dating. Maybe it’s just me?—”
“It’s not just you.”
“It’s not?”
His mouth curves into a tender smile. “No. It’s not. And it feels like more than just dating to me, too.” He brushes his lips across mine before asking, “Do you really think I’d be talking about a trip next summer if I thought this was just a casual thing?”
I give him a sheepish look. “I suppose not.”
Alec kisses me again. “So that’s settled. You’re my girlfriend. What’s the other thing you wanted?”
“Um. It sort of goes along with that.”
His brows pull together. “Okay?”
“I was just thinking, maybe you might like to stay over tonight?”
Alec nods. “Of course. I can stay on the couch, like I did the other night. That’s no problem.”
“I was thinking more like… in the bedroom? With me?”
Time seems to stop as I wait for his response.
