She kissed my forehead, then turned to Snapper. “And you. Stop pestering her. Give her space to breathe.”
“I’m not?—”
“Yes, you are. I know my sons.” She patted his cheek. “Be patient.”
He flushed. “Yes, ma’am.”
The driveback to my family’s place was quiet at first. Snapper kept his eyes on the road, but his jaw was tight. I stared out the window, watching vineyards roll past, thinking about everything and nothing.
“My mom’s right,” he said. “I am pestering you.”
“You’re not.”
“I am. I keep pushing when I said I wouldn’t.”
“Snapper—”
“No, let me finish.” He took a breath. “I meant what I said about giving you time. About not going anywhere. But I also meant what I said in that text. I want you to know I’m choosing this. Choosing you. Before anything else comes up that makes you doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why me? Why now? You’ve had your pick of women for years. Buckle bunnies, Isabel throwing herself at you every chance she gets, probably a dozen others I don’t even know about.”
“You really don’t know?”
“No.”
“Because it’s always been you, Saffron.” He glanced at me, then back at the road. “Since we were kids. Since before I even knew what it meant to want someone. You’ve always been theone I looked for in a room. The one I wanted to tell things to. The one who made me want to be better.”
“Snapper—”
“I know the timing is shit. I know you’re dealing with something you won’t tell me about. And getting involved with me is probably the last thing you need right now. But I’m tired of acting like we’re just friends when we both know it’s more than that.”
“What if it doesn’t work? What if we try this and?—”
“Then we’ll deal with it. But at least we’ll know.”
“Your friendship means a lot to me. I don’t want to lose that.”
“You won’t.” His voice was firm. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Even if the romantic stuff doesn’t work—and I think it will, but even if it doesn’t—you’re not losing me. I know I keep repeating it, but I’m not going anywhere.”
I wanted to believe him so badly it hurt.
He drove up to my house and put the truck in park, but neither of us moved.
“Thanks for this morning,” I said.
“We’re partners.”
“Yes, and I’ll text you tomorrow with an update on the readings.”
He faced me, and the intensity in his gaze made me pause.
“I need to go. Lots to prep.” I pushed the door open before I could do something stupid like climb across the console and kiss him again.
He let me go. Again. Patient in a way I didn’t deserve, giving me the space I’d asked for even though I could see how much it cost him.
