He groaned. “Don’t fuck with me.”
“The car’sfine,” I said. “Thanks for letting me take it. It was nice spending time with Jessa.”
“I warned her if she told any embarrassing stories about me, she’d be out a babysitter for life.”
I squeezed his knee. “Somehow I doubt you’veeverdone a single embarrassing thing.”
“Of course I have,” he stated. “I proposed to my girlfriend, and she said no.”
My cheeks warmed. “Did you mean it? Or was it an in-the-moment thing?”
“I meant it,” he said. “I’m sorry it wasn’t more romantic.”
“It was perfect,” I said, because it was. I couldn’t think of anything more romantic than blurting it out because he couldn’t keep it inside another second. “Everything you do for me, you do with love. Iknowthat.”
We sat in silence until the sun dropped behind the horizon.
“Canyon passed away this morning,” he said.
I gasped. “Your family’s dog?”
“My mom called. They had to put him down.”
I turned between his legs and sat back on my calves. “Honey. I’m so sorry.”
“He was sick, as you knew. It was his time, but I thought we had a little longer.” He avoided my eyes, so I waited until they drifted back to mine. I couldn’t help tearing up at his crestfallen expression.
He touched the corner of my eye with his thumb. “It’s okay,” he said, but I could see that he was hurting.
I nodded and leaned in to comfort him with a kiss. His hand moved to my hair to hold me there as he kissed me back, slowly at first, then deepening it. As dusk settled around us, I unfolded my legs and wrapped them around him so we were as close as we could get.
“Good thing I’m wearing a dress,” I said.
He laughed softly. “I thought you hated beach sex.”
“Apparently, I was doing it wrong.”
His voice lowered. “I’m not going to have you here in front of everyone.”
“It’s almost dark,” I replied. “The beach is empty.”
“Still.”
I could feel his heartbeat, strong and solid against my breasts. I hugged him closer and whispered, “I’m sorry about Canyon.”
“I know.”
I didn’t want David to hurt, but there was no way my confession wouldn’t cut him deeply. Either he’d lose me or he’d lose a future he’d envisioned for himself. For us. From the start, he’d known I was the one.
“David?” I asked.
“Hmm?” he answered, brushing his lips over mine.
“Do you believe in soulmates?” I asked, even though I knew what he’d say.
But he paused, and to my surprise, responded with the opposite answer. “No.”
I drew back. “Why not?”
