“Well,” he tightened his hold around my waist, “we’ll go out tonight, and he’ll insist on paying. I’ll take that as an insult that I’m not successful enough to pay, and I’ll fight him on it for a few minutes. And then he’ll ask questions about the restaurant out of genuine interest, and I’ll again get annoyed that he’s nit-picking at all the business decisions I make. I’ll most likely come home feeling like shit for either not being as good as him or for being an asshole because I don’t know how to deal with my insecurities.”
“Self-awareness isn’t any good if you don’t try to get ahead of it,Joey.”
“I knew you’d pick up on that,” he groaned as his head fell back. “I’ll probably need comfort when I get home.” Joe’s hand skidded up my thigh until his finger grazed the edge of my panties.
“What kind of comfort?” I jumped when his hand traveled lower and settled between my legs.
“Maybe ride me for a little while, sit on my face. Feeling you come on my tongue should make me forget my troubles for a bit.”
I shook my head and lifted my leg to straddle his lap.
“You’re filthy,” I whispered before dipping my head to kiss him. He laughed against my lips before he pulled back.
“And you’re mine for the entire day. Ready?”
After a week of fearing the worst and focusing on how we’d end, I wanted to embrace the ride, no matter where it led.
I replied with a kiss. “Absolutely.”
24
Joe
“Tired?”I glanced at Caterina over my shoulder as she trailed behind me.
“No, but maybe like slow down for just a minute.” She glared at me while fighting a smile.
Ocean Cove was small, but I made sure she saw all of it. I took her to the tiny coffee shop that, like my place, saw a big boost in business each summer but had enough of a local following to stay open all year long. Moving out here and running a business wasn’t easy, but I loved it. The local merchants joined together to keep revenue up with seasonal events, and fall was becoming more popular around here. I always saw possibility here and still do, but I suspected showing Caterina all of my adopted hometown had to do with a subconscious need to convince her to stay.
We wound up on my favorite pier, the one no one seemed to know about but me. From the end, you could see the boardwalk and rides from the more popular shore towns, and, even with the crazy lights in the distance, I’d always found peace here. I came here to think, even in shitty weather that rocked the old wood and made it creak, and I’d always leave with a little more clarity than when I’d first arrived. Now, I realized, I’d come here next time and remember who I’d been with today and would be sad instead of soothed.
“You said no one comes here but you?” Caterina walked up to the edge and leaned over the railing. “Seems like such a shame, you know?”
I came up close behind her and looped one arm around her waist. “Can you see Wildwood in the distance? You can tell by the big Ferris wheel from the water park. At night, when it’s lit up, it’s pretty cool.” I leaned into her, my eyes clenching shut as I tried to memorize how her body felt against mine, the scent of her hair, and the little noises she made that she wasn’t even aware of.
As if she could read my mind, she drew back, tilting her head so I could rest my chin on her shoulder.
“You’re a bit of a loner, aren’t you?” She turned and wrapped her arms around my neck. “This place is about as different from Queens as you can possibly get, and you moved here alone. Dominic came later, right?”
“Yes. Not too much later, but,” I shrugged, “I was okay coming out here alone but thankful he was here to help me, then and now. Sometimes it’s hard to admit I have limitations.” I yanked her closer, drawing out a laugh. “I think you can relate.”
“I’m working on it.” Her fingers played with the collar of my T-shirt before her dark eyes came back to mine. “You really never had a girlfriend? As ridiculously good-looking as I’m sure you always were, not even like in high school?”
I laughed and lifted a shoulder. “I had dates. Some repeats. But nothing I would call anything special. I know I sound like an asshole. But I never led anyone on, at least, not intentionally. When I go back to my old neighborhood, I don’t walk the streets in fear of some kind of retaliation.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Lifelong bachelor even back then?”
“What about you? I’m sure you had a ton of guys wanting to take you out in high school.”
“Nope. I was sort of a late bloomer. Product of an overprotective mother. I was always more in the background: the girl with glasses who always got good grades and did what she was supposed to.”
“You’re hot asfuckin glasses.” I yanked her closer.
She cupped my cheek. “Your kink is cute. But back then, not so much. Anyway, we’re changing the subject. We were talking about you. My past is non-existent.”
My head fell back on a sigh before my gaze came back to Caterina’s.
“I liked the girls I dated. But none of them…” My eyes darted away from hers and focused on the water behind her. A confession dangled between us, but I couldn’t look at her when I let it out.
