“Okay.” I stretched my arm along the cracked vinyl cushion behind her. “Art isn’t usually my thing, but I still thought it was cool. Especially, when you explained everything.” I nuzzled her hair and kissed her cheek.
PJ elbowed my side with a giggle. “Is that your nice way of saying I bored you?”
“Never. Your excitement is sexy.” I cupped her cheek, gliding my thumb along her beautiful jaw. “I liked seeing you in your element.” It was a half-truth. I loved watching her eyes light up at all the paintings and sculptures and when she’d tell me about a technique she recognized, but it all made me wonder what I had to offer her. I doubted taking her to one of our construction sites would be that exciting.
“I was the only kid who asked for art books for Christmas instead of toys. Well, you know that. Jack always found the best ones. I doubt I’ll ever be that good, but I’m excited to learn.”
I pulled her closer. “You’re already amazing. You’ll blow them all away.”
A laugh bubbled from her chest before she cradled my face. “I think you’re my biggest fan.”
“Always,” I whispered before pulling her in for a kiss.
“Dylan? Holy shit!”
We jerked apart when I turned to the familiar voice behind me.
“Kevin? Holy shit is right.” I stood to shake his hand. Kevin was a high school friend of Jack and mine but I hadn’t seen him since we all went our separate ways for college.
“Funny seeing you here.” He glanced over my shoulder with a puzzled glare. “I don’t mean to stare at your girl, but she looks familiar.”
“Hi, Kevin.” PJ stood and snaked her arm around my waist. “I remember you. PJ, Jack’s sister.”
As the realization sunk in, he looked between us with a mix of incredulity and amusement.
“Wow, Jack’s sister is all grown up.” He nodded, giving her body a quick peruse before noticing my fists balled at my sides. “Nice to see you.”
“You, too. I’ll let you guys catch up. I’d like to wring my hair out anyway. I’ll tell Jack you said hi.” PJ gave him a knowing smile. She’d probably guessed what must’ve been racing around in Kevin’s head although, he was, thankfully, being polite enough not to say it out loud at the moment.
“Oh … sure. Thanks,” he stammered as PJ sauntered away.
“You and Taylor’s sister?” Kevin’s eyes widened as he gaped at me. “Does he know?”
“Yes.” I wouldn’t get into the sneaking around her parents.
“They didn’t kill you?” He snickered and shook his head. “I never thought Mr. Garcia was that … progressive.”
He’s not. That’s why he doesn’t know yet.
“She’s …” His eyes darted to the path PJ took. “Legal now, right?”
“Yes, for God’s sake. She’s eighteen. Starting college next week.”
“You guys look serious.”
“We are,” I scoffed, not appreciating his tone.
“Remember the last time I met up with you guys? I think it was spring break our freshman year. Having a girlfriend that weekend would have sucked, right D? It’s good that she doesn’t mind being tied down so … young.”
Had he always been this much of a dick? Uncomfortable memories rushed through my head: a bunch of idiot college kids making shitty decisions and … doing what they were supposed to be doing. They were being free and living in the moment. PJ was giving all of that up because of me, maybe because she didn’t realize it.
“Did the waitress come yet? I’m starving from that sprint from the museum.” She rubbed her flat stomach and smiled for me so wide and beautiful. My insides ached. She was mine, and giving her up was as easy as cutting off my own limb, but was I being selfish?
“Let’s get you fed then.” I planted a quick kiss on her forehead, all our playfulness from only a moment ago gone, thanks to the unwanted reality dropped into my lap. “Nice to see you, Kevin.”
“You, too.”
I gave him a nod with my chin before I led PJ back to the booth, sitting across from her and opening my menu. I wasn’t sure how much she’d heard, but judging by the way her eyes bore into me, she’d heard plenty.
