“I don’t think I can fit, but I’ll tell you what.” I pulled the beanbag next to the bed. “I’ll hang out here. Hopefully one of you can scoop me out if I get stuck.”
Jesse smiled when I pulled a giggle out of her.
“You can make it out, Legs. I believe in you,” Jesse teased, his croaky whisper breaking my heart as much as his niece’s tears.
I sank into the surprisingly comfortable softness and rested my head on the bump at the edge I guessed was supposed to be the pillow.
I found Jesse’s gaze as he reached over Maddie, flexing his fingers when he stretched out his hand.
I took it, lacing our fingers together as he nodded at me and rested his chin on top of Maddie’s head.
It was still too soon to be here for good, but tomorrow, it would be next to impossible to leave either of them.
25
EMILY
“Didwe ever really do this back then?” Jesse asked me as we strode to the restaurant entrance.
“Do what? Have dinner together? Yes, lots of times,” I said. “I couldn’t have the pizza burger I always ordered with you at the diner for at least five years, because the thought of it made me pissed at you all over again.”
“I mean a date. Diner dates don’t count, even if my niece disagrees.” He pulled the glass door open and stepped to the side for me to walk through. “We never did any…I don’t know…adult couple stuff.”
“Um, I remember plenty of adult couple stuff. Especially that last month,” I whispered as we stepped into the restaurant.
Jesse had made reservations at a steakhouse and arranged a sleepover for Maddie with Jesse’s parents. We’d been officially together for two months, celebrating the holidays with our families like we used to, although watching my mother so happy to see Jesse would always be an adjustment. Despite my attempt to slow things down and create boundaries, I’d gone back on almost everything I’d said.
My furniture wasn’t in Jesse’s house, but everything else of mine had piled up as I spent more nights there than in my ownapartment. Rent was becoming a needless expense for a place just to pick up my mail.
“The best I was able to do was that clam bar in Seaford when I worked with Caden that summer. I always felt like I never took you out on a real date. And after all this time back together, I should have done this sooner.”
I stepped in front of him and smoothed my hand down the front of his jacket.
“I love that you planned a night like this for us, but I’m very happy eating cheeseburgers with my two favorite people. And back then, you know I never cared about that.”
“But I did. I always pictured some asshole jock buying you lobsters in Maine,” he muttered as we approached the hostess.
“I was too busy in Maine to eat any lobster. And again, I’m very happy to eat anywhere as long as I’m with you. But if you want to date me, I won’t fight you.”
“Thank you.” He cracked a grin and gave his name to the hostess.
“Come to think of it,” he said, glancing back at me as we made our way to the table, “I don’t remember us going to an actual restaurant for dinner, other than the night I followed you on your date.”
I groaned and shook my head as he held out my chair.
“I guess I technically went on two dates that night.”
I fought a laugh when Jesse’s eyes narrowed in a glare.
“I wasn’t sharing you then, and I’m sure as hell not sharing you now,” he whispered, his breath fanning hot on my neck, sending goose bumps across my shoulder.
“You know, I have to say, I don’t hate your alpha side.”
“Which part?” He squeezed my knee after he settled next to me. “When I get jealous or when I tell you to crawl to me in bed so I can?—”
“Stop it,” I gritted out, pushing his hand away and raising my menu to block his face.
“I think it’s both. Look at those cheeks. I bet I know where else you’re flush?—”
