Has anyone ever told you that you’re very efficient? It’s one of the things I love about you.
Whitney
I hope you’re not looking for me to love your lack of efficiency.
Henry
I’m hoping you find other things to love.
To this point, I was always the one who dropped that word first and we only used it with a heavy pour of humor. We were never truly talking about big, serious love. Rather, we were horsing around with the semi-sarcastic things we loved about each other. It was safer that way. Less official.
And I had no problem with this. So far, it was working exactly as intended. The fact that Whit even played along meant I was doing something right. It also felt like I’d ingested a liter of Pop Rocks, which was an experience that split the difference between fun and fucking terrifying.
I said my goodbyes, declined repeated offers to take some leftovers, and got myself up the street. When I approached, I beckoned to her, saying, “Get over here.”
She walked into my open arms with a laugh. “What’s this all about?”
I tugged on her scarf as I brushed my lips over hers. “I had to listen to O’Rourke talking about how he’s been hitting on you for months.”
I felt her smile. “And that’s my fault?”
“Of course it’s not,” I said. “I’d just like to get you home and remind you that you’re unavailable.”
“Oh, am I?”
She was teasing. I knew she was teasing. I still nipped at her bottom lip and slapped her round ass. She yelped and wiggled in my arms, and I held her tighter as I kissed her neck and jaw and that ticklish spot behind her ear that made her crazy.
I looped my arms around her shoulders. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?”
“Because it didn’t matter?” She shook her head, a puzzled expression pulling at her features. “Why would I bother telling you?”
“I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on it before now,” I said. “I knew there was something weird about the way he hugged you at the softball game.”
“I believeIhuggedhimbecause he brought an extra shirt for me after I’d left mine at the office.”
“And his obsession only grew from there.” An impatient noise rose from my throat. “How many people do you have chasing after you? Who else is there? Names, Whitney. Give me the names. I want a list.”
“There’s no need for another one of your lists.” She brought her palms to my face, holding me steady as she stared up at me with bright, wild eyes and our breath mingled into tiny clouds in the cold air. “There is no one else, Henry. After everything we’ve been through, you know there’s no one else.”
I backed her up against an SUV parked on the side of the street, one arm locked around her waist while I slipped a hand into her hair and crushed my lips to hers. She tasted the same as she had that very first night, sharp and sweet and unforgettable, and I knew without a stitch of doubt that I loved her.
I loved her the way the dark of night loved the dawn, and just as one always chased the other, I didn’t think I’d ever stop chasing her.
A horn honked nearby and I tipped my forehead to hers. “I’m still going to remind you that you’re unavailable when we get home. Many, many times.”
“I mean, if you have to.” She rolled her eyes like this was a major inconvenience to her. Goddamn, I loved this girl. “I guess I can deal with that.”
“Good, because?—”
Headlights flipped on from the car behind us. I held up a hand to see over the glare and found Tori sitting in the driver seat, Reza beside her and Cami leaning forward from the back. Cami lifted both hands to her face, covering her mouth. Reza blinked furiously. I watched Tori’s lips form the wordswhat the fuck?
Before I could react, Tori pulled away from the curb and down the street. I stared after her taillights for a moment, not sure what had just happened.
What the fuckwas right.
“Henry,” Whit said, tugging at my coat. “Come on. Our car’s here.”
Though I remembered none of it, I was aware that she’d directed me into the car at some point and we were now cruising over the Longfellow Bridge toward Boston.
