“Yes, it was, Peanut.” He leaned against the sink and folded his arms. “And you fought me every time. I don’t get the sudden shift …”
I glanced behind him at the kitchen wall clock. Six forty-five. How was I going to sneak across the street with Dad still home? ExplainingwhyI was heading to Dylan’s house would take a lot longer than fifteen minutes. As my father droned on, I tried to piece together an alternate route in my head.
“Is that my husband and my daughter?” My mom rushed into the kitchen, and I held in a groan. Now I had to escape both of them. I folded my hands under my arms to hide the nervous shaking.
“Don’t be dramatic, Mom. You see me every day.”
“For a few minutes only. I’m teaching, you’re teaching, and then you disappear after dismissal.” Her eyes darted between Dad and me. She quirked a brow before turning toward Dad with a big smile. “Want to grab a cup of coffee before your next shift, Chief?”
A warm smile lifted his cheeks before he walked over to peck her lips. “I’d love to, sweetheart.”
I held in a relieved sighas Mom took his hand and led him out of the kitchen. They had a sickening, cute as hell marriage, and watching them in this mushy state usually gave me a wave of nausea. This time, I thanked God their need for quality time with each other trumped their quest for answers from me and my oddball behavior. They both gave me a quick kiss goodbye on the cheek, my father mouthingwe’ll talk laterto me, before they left.
I scurried to the bay window in front of the house to make sure they drove away. It was already seven-twenty when I power walked across the street. Running would call attention to myself, and the way both my parents attempted to grill me, I was doing an awesome job of that already.
“I thought you were standing me up.” Dylan pulled me inside and kissed me. Each kiss was passionate and urgent, the sneaking around igniting the passion even more. As annoying as it all was, when I was in his arms and feeling his lips on mine, it all seemed worth it.
For now.
I should’ve been able to visit my boyfriend’s house for dinner without feeling like I was on a secret mission. Even though I was eighteen, the lies and the covering of the lies made me feel like a rebellious child. We couldn’t keep up with this forever. I ached to tell my parents the truth, but fear of the aftermath stopped me each and every time.
“Dad stopped home to see us between shifts and started grilling me about school, then Mom came home and was about to do the same thing but they went out for coffee and I ran here.” My weary head fell into his chest as it shook with a laugh.
“Breathe in, baby.” He kissed the top of my head and ran his hands up and down my arms.
“I could have told them.” My hands drifted down his chest. “And I wanted to, but—”
“Things won’t be as easy when we do.” He brushed the hair off my forehead. “I get it, trust me. When the time comes, we’ll do it together. But you’re here, now.” He cradled my face and ran his thumb along my jaw. His crooked smile melted my insides. Sure, we were deferring disaster, but I loved being with him too much to care.
“We’ll worry about that all later. Right now, I made you dinner.” He pulled me by the hand toward his tiny kitchen.
“Ropa Vieja.” I smiled big, psyching myself up to take a couple of bites and gush about how great it was no matter how inedible it turned out. “I can’t wait.”
He growled and pulled me closer. “Say that again.”
“Say what again?” I crinkled my nose at the sudden wave of lust in his eyes.
“You’re so damn sexy when you speak Spanish.”
I wasn’t completely fluent, but I understood enough to hold my own in a conversation. My father’sabueladrilled the correct accent into me before I started kindergarten.
“You’ve heard me speak Spanish before.” My brow crinkled at his hungry gaze.
“And you’re sexy every time.” His dark eyes roamed my body, causing a chill along their path.
“You’re ridiculous,” I said with a laugh, despite the growing weight on my chest.
Hewasridiculous, and gorgeous, and … wonderful.
Everything was perfect because we were perfect. Perfect until everyone found out about us. It was hard to enjoy the moment when I didn’t know how to make it last.
Dinner, while the shredded beef needed a little more chewing than usual, was edible enough to eat an entire plate. Dylan planned a perfect dinner complete with a scented candle I suspected he picked up at the supermarket with the meal ingredients. All the little things he did just to make things special for me made my heart swell.
I thanked him by straddling his legs the second he fell back on his couch and attacking his lips.
“Is this my tip?” He laughed against my lips. “I probably shouldn’t mention dessert.” He squeezed my thighs before bringing me closer.
“What’s for dessert?” I pulled my mouth away from his and dropped kisses down his neck. I smiled at the rumble deep in his throat when I licked across his collarbone.
