Oh.
He reached over, very quickly patting my arm. “You did great today, Deacon. You really helped her and totally brightened her day.”
“It was your idea, and I wouldn’t have done this had you not suggested it. And I wouldn’t have come on my own.”
“Then we make a pretty good team, huh?”
I met his eyes. “Yes.” I tried to hold his gaze but had to look away. “I think we do. Make a good team.”
He pressed his hands to his thighs and inhaled deeply. “We better get back to work.”
“Yes. I’m late already.”
As I drove down Main Street, and just as I was about to park the truck, Winter cleared his throat. “Sooo,” he drew out, in a way that often preluded something uncomfortable. “I was thinking...”
I put the truck into Park and held my breath.
And waited.
“Thinking about what?” I asked, suddenly not feeling very well.
He reached over to where I had my hand pressed to my stomach, and taking my sleeve, he whispered, “Hey.”
I looked at his face then. He was smiling, which confused me...
“So I was thinking,” he said, his eyes locking with mine. “That dating is awesome and all, and I’m very happy with where things are at, but I was wondering if you would want to upgrade to boyfriends?”
I blinked.
Boyfriends . ..
“Totally cool if you don’t want that,” he added quickly. “If you’re happy with how things are progressing between us. If you think it’s too soon. But I really like you, Deacon. You’re the most amazing guy I’ve ever met?—”
“Yes. Yes, to boyfriends. Yes, to upgrading. Yes, to everything you said. Except the moving too fast part. That’s a no. I don’t think we’re moving too fast.” I winced. “But yes. To being boyfriends. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, nor have I been one. Which kinda negates the whole never-had-a-boyfriend part, because I can’t have had a boyfriend if I’ve never had one. Which doesn’t include girlfriends, because I’ve never had one of those before either.”
He laughed, eyes bright, cheeks pink. “You just might be the best boyfriend ever.” He still had hold of my sleeve, which he only just seemed to realize. Instead of dropping it, he slid his hand over mine, giving a quick squeeze before letting go. “I’ll call you later tonight.”
All I could do was nod, before he was gone.
My heart was racing, my tummy now full of butterflies and jitters that didn’t feel achy at all.
Boyfriends.
I had a boyfriend.
I am a boyfriend.
I drove back to work and walked in floating on cloud nine. Dad was at the reception desk, holding a white rabbit. He took one look at me and stopped talking to Courtney.
She looked at me too. So did the rabbit, and the two clients in the waiting room.
“Deacon,” Dad said cautiously optimistic. “Everything okay, son?”
I rocked up on my toes, as if the excitement was too much for standing still. “Yes.”
“Mrs. Stevens was okay?”
“Oh yes. She was fine. She appreciatedthe visit.”
